Your marriage might officially end when the judge signs your divorce decree, but that doesn’t necessarily end your divorce case.
One party is often ordered to pay spousal support, often referred to as alimony. If children are involved, child support is typically ordered and there are often lingering custody issues to work out. When financial circumstances change, one party might ask the court to modify the amount or duration of the support payments. [Read more…]
In his latest Huffington Post column, Cordell & Cordell Principal Partner Joe Cordell critiqued the child support system for the manner in which it frequently tears families apart.
Ideally, child support should ensure all financial necessities needed to raise a child are covered, with both parents providing fair contributions. [Read more…]
Indianapolis Divorce Lawyer Jason Hopper was featured extensively in an Indiana Lawyer article regarding prospective changes to the state’s age of emancipation law.
Many Indiana fathers have unknowingly been accumulating child support arrears after assuming their duty to pay support ends with the child’s 18th birthday when in fact the age of emancipation is 21 in Indiana. A proposed bill would lower the age of emancipation for minors from 21 to 19.
“I can’t begin to tell you how many prospective clients that I interview that have the displeasure of finding out that they have a child support arrearage,” Hopper told the newspaper.
The issue is particularly troublesome to wealthier clients who can accumulate substantial arrearages quickly if they miss a few payments. Since those child support payers who owe more than $15,000 face felony charges and up to eight years in prison, Hopper said high-income dads are at greater jeopardy of facing punishment simply because they’re paying a higher dollar amount in support.
The article “Bill Would Change Child Support Statute” is for subscribers only, but it can be read by signing up for a free 8-week trial. Read Jason Hopper’s bio for more information.
Indiana Lawyer‘s interest in reporting Mr. Hopper’s insight into this timely issue is indicative of the respect earned by the Cordell & Cordell law firm and its skilled divorce lawyers. With more than 20 years experience representing men’s interests in divorce and domestic litigation matters, Cordell & Cordell continually proves it is a partner men can count on.
To schedule an appointment with a Cordell & Cordell attorney, please call 1.866.DADS.LAW.
A man who lost his bid for a seat on the Hertford, North Carolina, town council has asked state officials to examine the timing of his arrest by the local sheriff’s department over less than $1,700 in child support payments, the Associated Press reported.
The court order that landed the candidate in prison on the day of the election was allegedly five months old, and Quentin Jackson is wondering why they waited till this specific time to arrest him, according to the news outlet.
“It just feels bad to be portrayed as a bad guy trying to skip out on some child support,” Jackson told WTKR 3 News.
Jackson said that his lack of money has prevented him from making the payments, along with the bills for the apartment where the kids stay with their mother.
“Their mom, she lives in an apartment. She doesn’t have to pay any rent. She [doesn’t] have to pay any light bills. She doesn’t have to pay any bills – I take care of that,” Jackson told the news source.
