Understanding More About Child Custody And Support
In Australia, both parents are expected to support their child or children financially, and that includes after a separation or divorce. In some cases where a child lives more with one parent, that might mean the other parent pays to help with the costs of raising the child. Child custody lawyers can help with cases of parenting orders as well as with child support issues.
Costs of hiring a lawyer for legal parenting issues
The costs of hiring lawyers for such situations vary depending on the issues being disputed. If parents are not able to agree on where the child is going to school, this is a less complex legal issue that will cost less to resolve than say a dispute about where the child is going to live. It also depends on how long the dispute goes on, shorter cases that last a few months cost less than cases that go on for longer. Most lawyers charge for the time they spend. Some agree on a lump sum and some charge per hour.
Hiring child custody lawyers Perth is something you pay for yourself. Each parent pays for their own lawyer and towards fees in a dispute that goes that reaches Court. If a Court judges that a parent has acted unreasonably, they can order that parent to pay a part of the other parent’s legal fees. This is unusual though.
Is the Court biased towards the mother over the father?
It is important to know that the Family Law Act is completely gender-neutral and there is no bias that leans towards mothers or fathers. Parenting disputes are judged with only what is best for the child or children, and are determined objectively. Both parents' child custody lawyers are heard, and their evidence considered, and often a social worker, independent of the case, will meet to study interactions between children and parents, then compile their recommendation. In very complex cases, the Court will even appoint a child custody lawyers of their own. The Judge will then make a decision and about whether there are to be shared living arrangements or not.
How is child support calculated?
Child support laws do not just cover children with divorced parents in Australia, it also includes children whose parents have separated. It is not something that the Court runs but instead is administered by the CSA or Child Support Agency. They use a formula and it factors in a lot of things such as the number of children, where the children spend their time, the income of each parent, how much time each parent spends with their children and more.
Child support disputes
If after going through the process a parent believes the results are unfair then there are avenues to dispute it. The dispute process is handled by the Child Support Agency, a review and reassessment will take place. If this process does not get the results the parent believes is fair, other steps can be taken including consulting with child custody lawyers Perth.
Making child support arrangements of your own
It is also possible for parents who are amicable to make their own arrangements. Whether the arrangements are informal or written, the final outcome must be formalised in a Child Support Agreement.
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