Child Support
Denver, Boulder Lawyers
Child support laws are set by the states. Child support payment enforcement is done by counties, and it could be done either in your county or that of the child's other parent.
In years past there was an official bias in favor of giving the mother custody and assigning child support payments to the father. However, that has changed so that now the main criterion is the child's "best interest".
If custody is decided by a court, it may well assign it to the father, and give the mother the responsibility of paying child support. It depends on the individual circumstances, and the history of the parties involved.
Receiving Child Support payments
The first requirement for receiving child support payments is establishing the paternity of your child. A child support lawyer will be able to help you do that, even if you have no current address or phone number for that parent.
In some cases the two parents agree on arrangements and things go smoothly. However, if you find that those payments are erratic, or have stopped, there is action you can take.
Child support order
If you have a court child support order, we at Hull & Zimmerman can help you get that order enforced. If you have no order, we can help you obtain one, and also help you get it enforced in the future, if the payments become late, or stop altogether.
Court hearings
You may be required to attend court hearings, depending on what particular action is needed. For instance, your presence would be required for establishing a child support order, or modifying one. Your Hull & Zimmerman attorney would of course accompany you.
If the other parent won't pay
There are a variety of steps that can be taken to enforce payment of child support, once the paternity is established.
- The child support can be withheld from wages and unemployment benefits
- The delinquent parent can be reported to credit bureaus
- Tax refund checks can be intercepted
- Driver's licenses can be suspended
- A contempt of court action can be brought against the delinquent parent
- Federal prosecution can be initiated if the delinquent parent moves to another state to avoid making payments
- Parents with past-due amounts owing can be referred to private collection agencies
If you feel the child support amount is too low
Your lawyer can request a review by the court, and the amount may be adjusted.
If your child reaches the age of emancipation, but support payments are still in arrears
In Colorado, the age of emancipation is 19. If amounts are still owing, your child support lawyer can help you collect them. There's no statute of limitations on this in Colorado.
Making child support payments
If you're the parent who is required to make child support payments, and you feel the amount is too high, or if for some reason it becomes burdensome (job loss or change, illness, etc.) you can petition the court which issued the order to review it. A child support attorney can help you do this, and will accompany you to the hearing.
If you don't have a copy of the court order, your attorney can obtain one for you. It's not wise to let the payments lapse, as you would pay a price for that sooner or later.
If you receive a notice to appear in court
You'll need to respond to it. If the court date given is a date you just can't be there, you can request a continuance, and a new date will be set. Your Hull & Zimmerman attorney can do that for you.
The Denver and Boulder area child support lawyers at Hull & Zimmerman offer free consultations to answer all your questions to help you understand your situation from a legal perspective. We'll look at the facts, assess your situation, and explain legal terms. If you choose to retain us, we'll assign whatever resources are needed to bring your case to a successful conclusion. At all stages of the process, we'll be available to explain and answer your further questions.
Greater Denver metro area and Colorado Child Support Lawyers.
Hull and Zimmerman, P.C.
2921 W. 120th Ave., Ste 220
Westminster, Colorado 80234
Phone: 303-423-1770
Fax: 303-423-2102
Toll Free: 1-866-385-3505
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