Feeling a bit confused after that divorce/separation recently? Maybe for starters, try to look ahead and see what you can do in the now. Knowing the kinds of support you can provide is the most basic child support advice for fathers. Things may not seem like the way you want them to be, but in time, things will eventually fall into place.
Separation is a confusing and difficult time for both parties. It brings stress and anxiety at first. Moreover, adjusting to the new environment now that your partner is also away from you might be truly challenging.
Understanding Australian Child Support
Deciding with your partner on having custody of your child while having equal shared parental responsibilities is a big challenge to face. Still, if both parties agree to have equal shared parental responsibilities over the child, they should consider the best interests of the child. Both parents have a role in making decisions in their child’s life. Focusing on making ends meet, and making compromises can be very beneficial for the well-being of the child.
You might think that custody is a competition, but no, you have equal custody with your ex-partner and no one is above each other. Seems just fair, right? That’s because the Family Law Amendment Act (2006) shifted its focus from the parents to the children and prevents things like instances of child abduction and/or domestic violence. Something worth noting is that this applies to all relationships regardless of whether you were married or not – like de facto relationships.
The same Act encourages both parties to reach a mutual agreement without having the Court intervene in the case. One reason that this is good child support advice for fathers and mothers is that it is cost-efficient for both parties. Regarding child support, parents should make sure that even if they don’t live with their children, they should cover their child’s expenses.
In discussing child support advice for fathers, it is important to note that the amount of child support you will pay depends on some factors like the age and number of children you have, how much you earn, and who often takes care of them.
Here are some other important details worth noting under child support advice for fathers:
- The Department of Human Services (DHS) handles all child support applications
- There are unique child support cases, so most likely child support payments will vary as well
- You can still make a Child Support Agreement with your former partner without the DHS
If both parties can’t reach a mutual agreement then you will need a child support assessment through the DHS.
Child Support Advice For Fathers
As a general rule, if you need or want something for your child, you are obliged to cover his/her expenses. As child support advice for fathers, it is only essential that you are true to yourself on what you can provide. Going over what you cannot provide can backfire on your individual financial needs. Your heart may want full custody of your child, but it is also time to be more realistic that it’s not easy to achieve.
Oftentimes, the father is required to deal with initial financial settlements with an agreement to sort parenting and financial orders. Both may be kept in separate orders, but it is in your best interest to have both parenting and property matters finalised by the end to avoid further conflicts.
The DHS will consider some of these factors when calculating child support payments:
- Each parent’s percentage of care and cost
- The number of children you have and their age
- Both of the parties’ income
Once the DHS has taken these details into account, they will assess and calculate which parent will pay child support and how to process the payments. Click here for more information on how the calculations are done.
Child Support Advice For Fathers: Importance Of Parenting Plans/Arrangements
Parenting plans/agreements can be best executed when both parents come to terms for the benefit of their child. This will also make things a lot easier in the divorce if you’re looking for good child support advice for fathers. The agreement requires an application to the court called ‘consent orders.’
A parenting plan is a written record of an agreement between both parties about the care of their child. There is no compulsory format for a parenting plan and it is cheaper and less stressful than going to court for a parenting order. Here are some tips in creating a parenting plan:
- Sit down with the other party and go over the total expenses of your child
- Understand your child’s best interests
- Compromise on a schedule
- Be ready for future major decisions. Have a backup plan if necessary.
Parenting orders, on the other hand, are only needed if both parties continue to disagree. These types of orders generally target specific behaviours like:
- The parent picking up the child from school
- The parent picking up the child overseas for a holiday
- Prohibit the other parent with a history of domestic violence
- Going to the other parent’s household with no consent
The Family Law Act also states that parenting orders can deal with who the child can live with and the time spent under their care with orders. Decision-making choices under these instances may also be considered.
When making parenting orders, there are many factors like conflicting schedules and other disputes between the two parties which will need to be considered. The child’s well-being is at stake, hence it is very important to resolve these disagreements. It is essential to create a safe space for your child in matters like these.
Importance Of Seeking Legal Advice
While the factors mentioned above are just a few, it is important to settle the majority of issues with organisation and careful planning. Seeking proper legal advice is the first step to good child support advice for fathers so that you can lead a better way of life.
Here at JB Solicitors, we have experienced family lawyers who can provide high-quality child support advice for fathers. We offer fixed-fee pricing to have our clients see clear costs of our services.
Get in touch with JB Solicitors today.
