How are Child Support Payments Treated on My Income Taxes?

Let’s say you recently got divorced from your spouse of 15 years with whom you have three children, ages five, seven and nine. Since your spouse received full custody and you are considered the noncustodial parent, a Pennsylvania family law court ordered you to pay $1,000 each month in child support. This is a significant financial burden, and you’re probably wondering if you can receive any kind of tax benefit for making these payments.
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Common Misconceptions Related To Child Custody In Pennsylvania

The best interests of your child should always be your top priority when it comes to child custody. It should not be about the mother or father, but rather about what is best for your child. There are a variety of sayings, myths, and wives tales about child custody that are not true. However, they remain in circulation and continue to contribute to the confusion.

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You Can Be In Love And Still Get A Prenuptial Agreement

There is a belief that a prenuptial or premarital agreement is in some sense asking a marriage to fail, or else it shows that the two people marrying are sure it won’t last. After all, why else would you sign a contract before marrying that will only take effect if you get divorced? If everything goes well and the married couple sticks together, there’s no need for a prenuptial.

But this question can be answered with another question: why bother buying home insurance, or auto insurance? If everything goes well, you’re just wasting your money. Why buy health insurance when you can just stay healthy? And why save up for your retirement when you can just keep working until you die?
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Yes, it’s Possible to Get a Child Support Modification

As you begin to pay child support, it’s your hope that the payment fits nicely into your monthly budget. Although you may not want to pay this money, you know that it’s the right thing to do.

There could come a point when you are no longer able to make your child support payment, such as if you lose your job or become seriously ill and are unable to work for an extended period of time.
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The Top 3 Reasons That Pennsylvania Residents Should Establish Paternity

Paternity or parentage can be established in a variety of ways in Pennsylvania. It can be done voluntarily or through a court order. For married couples, establishing paternity is done rather easily, however, for unwed mothers and fathers, it can become a thorn in their side. These mothers automatically receive custody of their child, however, there is no legal relationship between the father and child.
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Be Prepared For Your Child Custody Case With These 4 Tips

Child custody cases can cause people to act differently than they might under normal circumstances. Often, parents use their children as leverage or in a way that is meant to intentionally hurt the other parent. Regardless of what this individual has done to them, they should always remember to have the best interest of their child, or children in mind. If you are expecting a child custody case, we are knowledgeable in all Pennsylvania custody laws and we can help you through the entire process.
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Avoid Having To Pay Child Support Arrears With These Techniques

An arrear is basically money that is owed that should have already been paid. Getting behind on your child support payments can have drastic consequences. The amount that you owe will continue grow, due to interest, which can make it seem impossible to pay down. Garnishing of wages, tax refunds, and the suspension of your driver’s license can all take place if you get too far behind. These techniques are designed with the intention of keeping your payments up to date and getting your children the money they need when they need it.
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What Happens When You Fail to Pay Your Child Support?

One of the worst things about divorce is missing out on time with your children. When you factor in the sudden requirement to pay child support, it’s easy to grow resentful and question custody and support decisions and question what an ex is doing with the money you provide each month.

It’s important to remember that no matter how things devolve between you and your former spouse, child support is meant to help your children have an acceptable standard of living and failing to pay child support on time could mean that your children will be forced to go without things they may need.
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