There are several types of support that may be available for you to apply for after separation. The first to address, depending on if there are children involved and you receive custody, is child support. What always comes to mind is the amount that you can receive. No matter who receives custody, both parents are going to have to contribute to the well being of the children. To make it easier to decide, most states (including Maryland) have child support guidelines that the court can follow.
The court has the ability to grant temporary or permanent support. Be knowledgeable about how support is calculated and identify as much financial information that you can regarding your own situation and that of your former spouse. It takes more than a simple request to change the amount of support received, and the court does not take the decision to increase or decrease support lightly. In order for the court to modify the support, a party has to show a significant change in the financial circumstances of their situation or their spouses.
It is important to keep in mind that there are other financial responsibilities that accompany the children for a parent with custody. For these costs, a party may also request spousal support or family maintenance. The party can ask the court to consider costs such as the mortgage and household expenses, along with the costs for additional children activities (i.e. sports, scouts, medical care). The court will look into the many needs of the party requesting support, as well as the ability of the other party to contribute to these financial responsibilities.
Of course the party more concerned with these costs will be the parent that gains primary custody of the children. There are different types of custody that can determine the amount of support received. To learn about these, read about the different types of Custody HERE. When deciding which parent gets these types of custody, the court uses an the well known approach of “best interest of the child.”
If you are considering a separation or divorce, it is important for you to understand the many factors that play into the courts determination of custody and support. To help understand these, you should contact our Maryland Family Law Attorney as soon as possible to help explain your options. Our Maryland Attorney can help answer the many questions you may have going forward. CONTACT our Columbia Family Lawyer at 410-730-4404.
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