As a child support lawyer, I am frequently asked why the Pennsylvania child support guidelines don’t consider a parent’s expenses. Sometimes paying child support makes a parent "see red" on their checking account statement. Some parents experience budget deficits when they have to add child support to the list of bills they pay each month. And the court doesn’t seem to care. What gives?

Out of all the domestic issues that can arise, payment or receipt of child and/or spousal support is one of the most common. Both types of support are governed by the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines which establish a rubric for calculating the amount of the obligation.

When an individual files a complaint for child and/or spousal support in Pennsylvania, including Montgomery County and Bucks County, the court applies the parties’ net monthly incomes to the statewide support guidelines. Support is considered a priority obligation over other expenses of an obligor.

During and after a divorce, some parents face the prospect of returning to court year after year to obtain the support their children deserve. Hiring a lawyer for the constant court appearances becomes expensive. Frequently, the attorney’s fees coupled with the parent’s loss of work time, outweighs any additional child support award.

Each spouse owes support to the other as long as they are legally married. A court may require a spouse to contribute to the support of the other. The amount of support is determined by considering the income of each spouse, their earning capacities, assets and needs.