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Child & Spousal Support
Trusted Spousal Support and Child Support Lawyer in Chattanooga, TN
Two major factors to consider when filing for divorce are spousal support and child support. After your divorce, how will you support yourself and your children? Angela C. Larkins, attorney-at-law, can help you answer those questions. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and a trusted child support lawyer in Chattanooga, TN, Attorney Larkins will consider income and clearly explain the potential financial outcome of your divorce. She is a determined advocate who will fight to get you the fairest child and spousal support possible.
No matter the status of your divorce, Attorney Larkins is on your side. She brings experienced advocacy and valuable insights to your experience, whether your divorce is final and you need to modify child support or you are wondering if you qualify for alimony, Attorney Larkins is on your side. Contact our law firm today for a consultation for your case.
How is child support established in the State of Tennessee?
Child support is established before your divorce is final through attorney mediation or court decree. To determine fair child support, both parties involved in the divorce will fill out a financial worksheet in order to determine gross income. In the case of uncertain income situations, such as seasonal or commission-based incomes, the court may impute or base income on earning capacity. Once income has been determined, child support payments are calculated on factors that include:
- Allocation of parenting time with a primary and alternate parent; adjustments can be made based on the number of days spent with the alternate parent
- Payment responsibility for day care, health care, and/or medical insurance expenses
- Whether or not there are other children and other support orders in effect
Attorney Larkins will help you through the mediation process and to accurately evaluate income. She will keep you informed every step of the way so you can get fair child support after your divorce is final.
Child support modifications
If your divorce is final, Angela C. Larkins, attorney-at-law, can still assist you. As an experienced child support lawyer, Attorney Larkins can help you petition the court to modify your child support order to either increase the amount of your received payments or decrease the amount you are required to pay. According to State of Tennessee law, your circumstances must have changed by 15% to be eligible for modification. Other factors for modification eligibility include if you are financially responsible for additional children or if your income or expenses have increased or decreased significantly. Consult with Attorney Larkins today, and she will advise you on the next best steps regarding your child support order.
Child support enforcement actions
Has your ex-spouse stopped paying child support? Or have your circumstances changed and you are unable to meet child support payments? In the State of Tennessee, failure to meet child support payments can cause your driver’s license to be revoked. No matter your situation, it’s important to act soon. Whether you need your child support payments or you cannot afford your child support payments, Attorney Larkins can assist you. If you are pursuing child support payments, she can pursue an order of contempt for failure to pay child support on your behalf. If you can no longer meet child support payments, Attorney Larkins can defend you, helping you negotiate payment plans and/or additional time to make payments.
Alimony and spousal support
In the State of Tennessee, alimony is not automatically guaranteed if you are getting a divorce. The availability of alimony depends on a few factors, including:
- Income disparity
- The length of the marriage
- The earning capacity of each party
- The age and health of each party
- Accustomed lifestyle of each party
State of Tennessee spousal support orders
The State of Tennessee recognizes 3 types of alimony:
- Short-term alimony: This type of alimony is established for a period time to ease the transition a household from two incomes to one income.
- Long-term spousal support: Established if the receiving party cannot support themselves due to age or health, this type of alimony is granted for limited situations and, as the name implies, lasts over the long term.
- Rehabilitative alimony: This type of alimony is granted until the receiving party completes education or training in order to become self-supporting.
Attorney Larkins may also be able to handle proceedings for alimony pendente lite, which is an alimony granted by the court to help the receiving party pay household expenses and bills until the divorce is finalized. Whatever your situation, Attorney Larkins and her team are your dedicated, compassionate legal support system during an emotionally charged time. Turn to her to work out spousal support in Chattanooga, TN, that makes sense.
