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It can be rather vexing to have a judge who does not know you and your spouse and your children decide how much child support is appropriate, or what the child custody arrangements will be. You may feel that your history with your children and your emotional commitment to them provide a much better foundation for decisions about their future, including aspects of their monetary support.
The Best Interests of the Children and of Society
However, it’s in the best interest of the state in which you reside to make sure that everyone’s children are supported at an appropriate level, in an effort to prevent any child from growing up in a state of poverty. Helping children grow up to become healthy, happy and productive members of a society is a goal everywhere, and unfortunately the legal system has to step in to intercede on behalf of many, many children ¾ not only the children of divorcing parents.
Married Parents Must Provide Child Support Too
Although it may seem that only divorced fathers or mothers are ordered to pay child support, all parents are required by law to provide the necessities of life for their children. If the parents don’t meet this standard, the children may eventually have to be removed from such a household via a legal process, even if the parents are married.
An Agreement Between Spouses Can Avoid a Court’s Intervention
If you and your spouse can come to an agreement about child support, child custody, and all issues in your divorce, you may be able to have minimal contact with the legal system. That is, if you both can come to a settlement either on your own or with the help of a mediating party (and your child support agreement meets the approval of a family law judge), you will not have to go through a lengthy court process; the settlement can be drawn up and submitted for the court’s approval.
Talk to an experienced divorce attorney in your area to discuss your concerns.