Getting Child Support
Child support obligations can be secured by agreement or court order, and typically continue until the child is 21 years old.
Where the parties agree on child support payments, a document must be drawn to memorialize the parties' intentions, and it must be signed before a notary public and acknowledged. This requisite formality is required or such an agreement may be unenforceable. Entering into an agreement to pay support without an attorney can result in a waiver of rights and an inappropriate level of support, either too high or too low.
Similarly, attempting to prosecute or defend against a support proceeding brought in court must be taken seriously. Once a support award is ordered, seeking an upward or downward adjustment can be difficult to obtain.
Therefore, in either situation, you need to make certain you have aggressive representation to diligently protect your rights.
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