Stamford Child Support Lawyer

Stamford Child Support Attorney

Child support in Connecticut is determined by a specific set of guidelines. Family transitions involving the custody of children need proper management and care to avoid escalation. A skilled Stamford child support lawyer can provide dedicated and honest representation that leads to a favorable resolution of your child custody case.

Why Hire a Child Support Lawyer?

Child support lawyers can offer focused knowledge of this area of family law, including local statutes and precedents. It is important to work with a child support attorney who understands your unique circumstances and can provide individualized counsel.

For over four decades, the team at Reich & Truax, PLLC, has been helping the families of Stamford navigate the family court system. Our attorneys provide family-focused advocacy and counsel to individuals involved in complex custody matters.

Child Support in Connecticut

To receive child support in Connecticut, you must have a court order. A court order will clearly define the monetary support order and orders for childcare and health insurance. In cases where a non-custodial parent voluntarily agrees to pay child support, it must still be approved by the court.

Calculating Support

In Connecticut, the Superior Court hears child support cases. In Stamford, the Superior Court is located at 123 Hoyt Street, Stamford, 06905. The courts use a standard mathematical formula to calculate child support payments.

The formula uses the combined income of both parents and the number of children to determine an amount. The court will also determine how health insurance for the children will be provided and how unreimbursed medical costs will be allocated between the parents. Childcare costs are allocated between parents using a standard formula.

Connecticut uses the Income Shares Model (ISM) to determine child support, healthcare, and childcare amounts. The ISM seeks to determine the appropriate amount of financial support that the non-custodial parent should provide, based on both parents’ income and the child’s needs.

Child Support Enforcement in Connecticut

The Department of Social Services – Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) is the primary agency charged with these efforts. The Stamford County Child Support & Social Service Office is located at 1642 Bedford Street, Stamford, Connecticut, 06905.

In 2024, the state of Connecticut spent $76,443,534 to collect child support. The state assists with the collection of unpaid child support through various enforcement methods that include:

• Income withholding. Child support payments can be deducted directly from workers’ compensation and unemployment benefits, paychecks, and most retirement checks. Funds are withheld and sent to BCSE.
• Income tax fund interception. In cases where back support payments are owed, BCSE will notify the obligor that it will attempt to intercept all or part of their tax refunds through the IRS and the state Department of Revenue Services.
• Liens. BCSE can file a lien against real and personal property if the obligor owes at least $500 in back child support.
• Credit bureau reporting. BCSE is obligated to report the name of an obligor who owes $1,000 or more in child support payments to credit reporting agencies.
• Attachment, seizure of assets and benefits. The state has the authority to seize an individual’s assets and benefits if they are delinquent in their child support payments.
• Lottery offset. The Connecticut Lottery Corporation is required to check the names of lottery winners who win more than $5,000 against a list provided and updated by BCSE. If an obligor is a lottery winner, the amount of outstanding child support owed must be withheld.
• Passport denial. If an individual owes more than $5,000 in late child support payments, BCSE will notify the Department of State, which will deny the individual’s passport application.
• License suspension. If an individual is more than 90 days delinquent in their child support payments, the state may suspend various licenses. These licenses may include a driver’s, occupational, professional, and specific recreational licenses.

Individuals impacted can include counselors, therapists, medical professionals, pharmacists, barbers, hairdressers, architects, real estate agents, pawnbrokers, tradesmen, junk dealers, and auctioneers.

FAQs About Stamford, CT Child Support Laws

Contact a Stamford Child Support Attorney

At Reich & Truax, PLLC, our team of experienced child support attorneys has a deep understanding of current guidelines for determining child support in Stamford. We can meet to discuss your situation and provide advice for your specific circumstances. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help.