Durham-Chapel Hill-Raleigh Board Certified Child Support Lawyer
Serving the Triangle Area
In North Carolina, child support is based upon several factors, including your gross income, the number of children you support, health insurance costs and any extraordinary expenses your child may have. As one of only five practicing attorneys in Durham County to be board certified by the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization as a family law specialist, and having more than 10 years of experience serving clients in Durham-Chapel Hill, Alyscia G. Ellis can guide you through the process used to determine child support.
Your child custody and visitation agreement can affect how much child support you are entitled to receive or are obligated to pay. North Carolina uses three child support guidelines:
- Worksheet A is used when one parent has the child less than 123 overnights during a year.
- Worksheet B is used when each parent has the child least 123 overnights during a year and there is a true sharing of expenses.
- Worksheet C is used when there is more than one child and the children live with different parents.
The amount of child support determined by the worksheet is presumed to be reasonable. You can deviate from that amount. However, you must prove that the amount of support calculated is not reasonable because: a) it either exceeds or does not meet the needs of your child, or b) due to extreme circumstances, you do not have the ability to pay that amount. Deviations are rarely granted.
When Child Support Can Be Changed
- Either the payor or the recipient of child support is entitled to a recalculation every three years. If the recalculation results in a 15 percent difference in child support, the court will modify your child support to the new amount.
- If you have an involuntary change in circumstances − such as job loss or being forced to take a lower paying job − you can get a modification of child support. However the change in your circumstances cannot be voluntary.
For more information about child support: Call Attorney Alyscia G. Ellis at 919-688-9400 or fill out the contact form on this site.
