These include determining how the costs of their living expenses and education will be shared, usually until they turn 18 years of age or complete their secondary school education. Even the most amicable relationship breakdowns can become challenging when it comes to negotiating this financial decision.
Child Support
When children are involved, a separation or divorce carries with it long-term consequences. These include determining how the costs of their living expenses and education will be shared, usually until they turn 18 years of age or complete their secondary school education. Even the most amicable relationship breakdowns can become challenging when it comes to negotiating this financial decision.
There are two types of child support payments:
Periodic child support: Regular cash payments, calculated using a formula based on your and your ex-partner’s specific financial and care arrangements, or as agreed between you both.
Non-periodic child support: Payments for costs that include childcare and/or private school fees, private health insurance, medical, dental and orthodontic costs, school uniforms, school books and materials, and any other expense associated with the child.
Assessing Your Situation
At Clancy & Triado our accredited family lawyers will discuss your situation and provide objective advice on your obligation to pay, or your entitlement to receive periodic and non-periodic child support. We can also advise you on the terms of a private agreement on child support, known as a "Binding Child Support Agreement."
We can assess whether your Child Support Agreement should be provide for costs such as travel to enable your children to spend time with both parents, or costs associated with their health or any special needs.
Formalising Your Agreement
Once you and your former partner have agreed on a child support arrangement, your Clancy & Triado family lawyer will prepare a child support agreement to document these financial arrangements and make them legally binding.
Moving Forward
Over time, it’s understandable that your children’s circumstances may change. Clancy & Triado can help you request a change of periodic child support assessment from the child support section of the Department of Human Services. Additionally we can help you appeal a decision of the Registrar of Child Support, and if need be, appeal the decision of the Registrar to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.
Should it become necessary, your Clancy & Triado family lawyer can enforce the collection of child support and advise you about international child support entitlements and obligations when one parent is overseas.