Child Support
A child support lawyer helps determine and enforce the financial responsibilities of non-custodial parents. Each state sets its own child support laws, and since these obligations often continue until a child becomes an adult—or longer in special cases—they can cross state lines when parents or children relocate.
If you live in Virginia Beach, Wood-Hanna Law provides skilled legal guidance to help you secure fair and consistent financial support for your children.
Child support cases often arise alongside other family law matters such as:
- Divorce or separation
- Establishing paternity
- Custody and visitation disputes
It’s important to understand that financial support for children operates independently from other parental rights.
Support vs. Visitation: Even if a custodial parent denies visitation, the paying parent must still make all required support payments.
Legal Consequences: Failing to pay support can lead to contempt of court, wage garnishment, and other serious penalties.
Navigating child support issues can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to handle them alone. A Virginia Beach child support lawyer at Wood-Hanna Law can help you establish, enforce, or modify a support order while protecting your rights and focusing on your child’s best interests.
Obtaining a Child Support Decree
Requesting support is usually a straightforward process. If a family law case already exists, the parent seeking assistance can file a petition directly with the court. In new cases, special notice requirements ensure the court has authority over the other parent.
Sometimes the non-custodial parent initiates a support order to show compliance before requesting custody or visitation rights.
Each state uses specific formulas to calculate payment amounts. Most states publish worksheets that help parents input income and expenses to produce a presumptive monthly amount. Courts may adjust that figure up or down based on individual circumstances.
When both parties agree on a final amount, they can submit a joint order for court approval. If no agreement exists, the judge holds a hearing to decide the issue.
Modification of Existing Decrees
As life changes, so can a support order. Either parent may request a modification if income changes, expenses increase, or the child develops new needs. Courts also adjust orders periodically to reflect inflation and rising living costs.
The parent requesting the change must prove that the new circumstances meet the legal standard required in Virginia.
Child Support Enforcement
Ideally, every parent meets their financial obligations voluntarily. When that doesn’t happen, enforcement becomes necessary. Courts, state agencies, or private attorneys can take legal steps to collect overdue support.
Courts treat support orders like other civil judgments. They may garnish wages, seize bank accounts, or place liens on real property. In serious cases, judges can suspend driver’s licenses, professional credentials, or even impose jail time for repeated non-payment.
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