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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted most aspects of our lives. It’s no surprise it’s created questions and problems for parents dealing with child support and custody issues. Courts are taking the following position: A court order entered before the COVID-19 crisis is still enforceable unless it is modified. If you are able to pay, payments should be made as usual through Pennsylvania’s online payment system known as PACSES. If you […]

Separating from your spouse is overwhelming, especially for someone who is financially dependent on their partner. In Pennsylvania, the law allows a parent who exercises primary custody of a minor child or a parent who has shared custody but makes less money than the other party to file for child support. Similarly, while a divorce is pending, the lesser earning spouse might have a claim for spousal support or alimony […]

In high-income child support cases, the parent who is paying child support might feel the guidelines provide more income than the custodial parent can reasonably spend, particularly for an infant or toddler. On the other hand, the child support guidelines were enacted years ago to ensure that all children at a particular income level are treated the same, with predictable outcomes that encourage parents to settle out of court. The […]

When a parent who owes child support attempts to sell real estate, or collects a lump sum payment from a government agency, the law may authorize an automatic child support lien to collect the support arrears.  If the child support arrears are less than $5,000, the automatic child support lien imposed by 23 Pa.C.S. § 4308.1 may not apply, but the child support agency has the option of pursuing a […]

Parents who are receiving child support in Pennsylvania might get a small raise in 2017 — if they negotiate or go to court under the new Pennsylvania child support guidelines, effective May 1, 2017.  To find if you might be entitled to a raise (or have to pay more), look at the new Pennsylvania child support guidelines that are posted here. The Pennsylvania courts do not automatically grant child support […]

In the state of Pennsylvania, child support is awarded based on statewide guidelines that determine the amount owed after considering the net income of both parents, as well as the number of individuals being supported.  In many cases, the calculation to decide the amount of child support that is owed is a simple process, while the collection of child support presents many different challenges. Enforcing Pittsburgh Child Support Obligations The […]