Establishing, modifying, and enforcing child support obligations under NC guidelines.
North Carolina uses income-based guidelines to calculate child support, considering both parents' gross incomes, the number of children, health insurance costs, childcare expenses, and the custody arrangement. While the guidelines provide a framework, deviations are possible when circumstances warrant.
We help parents establish fair support orders, seek modifications when incomes or circumstances change, and enforce orders when the other parent fails to pay.
Support orders can be modified when there's a substantial change in circumstances — a significant income change, job loss, or change in custody. We also help enforce support orders through contempt proceedings when payments stop.
NC uses standardized guidelines based on both parents' gross incomes, the custody arrangement, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. The court enters the figures into a worksheet that produces a presumptive support amount. The court can deviate from the guidelines if application would be unjust.
A job loss can be grounds for a modification, but the court will examine whether the loss was voluntary or involuntary. If you voluntarily quit or were fired for cause, the court may impute income based on your earning capacity. Involuntary job loss is stronger grounds for a reduction.
Explore other child custody topics we handle or return to the main child custody page.
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