Child support and spousal support are significant financial issues, both for the person who receives support and for the person who is required to pay. While support obligations are determined by state or county guidelines, it often takes a lawyer's help to ensure that these payments are fair and accurate.
At The Mathews Group, LC, our lawyers guide men and women through the process of determining child support and spousal support. For a no-cost consultation, call 913-660-0664 or complete the simple contact form on this website. From our law office in Leawood, KS, we represent clients throughout the Kansas City metro area in Kansas and Missouri.
Child Support Guidelines in Kansas and Missouri
Missouri and Kansas courts provide worksheets that take into account parents' income and needs in determining whether child support is necessary, and if so, what the presumed correct child support will be. These are presumptions, not rules, and your own personal situation can affect the decisions you and the other parent make with regard to child support and what orders a court may enter.
You can view these worksheets by searching for "Missouri Form 14 Child Support Worksheet" or "Kansas Presumed Child Support Worksheet" on the Internet. While the calculations are fairly straightforward, most disputes revolve around the numbers that go into the calculation. For example, determining income for a person who works in a cash business or is self-employed or underemployed can be complex.
During your initial consultation with The Mathews Group, LC, our lawyers will run a full child support worksheet so that you'll know what the presumed child support is in your case.
Spousal Support Guidelines in Kansas and Missouri
Courts in Kansas and Missouri may award spousal support (also known as alimony or maintenance) in long-term marriages where one party has a financial need and the other has the ability to pay.
While there are no statutory guidelines for determining spousal support, Johnson County's guidelines may be representative of the approach your county will use. In Johnson County, alimony is usually 20 percent of the difference in the earnings of each party. For example, if you earn $90,000 and your spouse earns $40,000, you would pay 20 percent of the $50,000 difference, or $10,000, in alimony to your spouse.
Overland Park Child Support Attorneys
You will never be charged for your initial consultation with a Kansas City child support attorney at our firm. To schedule a consultation, call 913-660-0664 or complete our contact form.
