Custody and support matters are often the most highly contested issues in divorce cases. Our team at The Law Offices of Amanda Anne Reid, PLC, recognizes that you have a lot at stake, and we are prepared to help you effectively protect your rights by establishing and maintaining a fair and satisfying support agreement.
Based in Fredericksburg, our comprehensive family law firm is led by founding lawyer Amanda Reid. We represent men and women throughout Northern Virginia in spousal and child support cases, as well as other complicated family law issues.
Understanding Virginia Child Support And Spousal Support
Child Support | Child support is determined by the Virginia Child Support Guidelines, a group of specific factors that are used to calculate the amount of child support a parent will be awarded. The factors take into consideration several items that promote the child's best interests such as:
- Parents' income
- Various costs, including day care, schooling, extracurricular activities, etc.
- Additional child support agreements a parent may have for other biological children
- If a parent is receiving or paying spousal support
- Fees for health and medical insurance
Virginia is considered a shared income guideline state, meaning guidelines take into account the incomes of both parents. Support can be paid directly to a parent or through Virginia's Division of Child Support.
Spousal Support | Unlike child support, there are no legal guidelines for awarding spousal support in Virginia — it is always the judge's discretion. Primarily, family court balances the need for spousal support against the other person's ability to pay. Other factors that a judge will look at involve:
- Length of the marriage
- Spouses' incomes
- How spouses have contributed financially and emotionally to the marriage
- Education and employment history of both spouses
- If adultery was present in the marriage
Spousal support is usually awarded as a lump sum or as a periodic payment plan over a number of years. In addition to representing you in your spousal support matters, we will help with obtaining temporary support that can financially assist you during your divorce process.
Helping You Enforce Your Rights
Although judges don't often deviate from the child support calculations when determining support, we will work to ensure that the unique factors of your case are properly represented and taken into consideration in support cases.
Many of our clients come to The Law Offices of Amanda Anne Reid, PLC, for help modifying and enforcing child support and spousal support agreements or seeking defense in enforcement and contempt matters. Contact us today to learn more.
A skilled litigator who is deeply familiar with Virginia child and spousal support laws, Fredericksburg child support attorney Amanda Reid can help you take the appropriate legal action to modify or enforce your support agreement.
Contact Our Spotsylvania County, VA, Spousal Support Attorney Today
We invite you to contact The Law Offices of Amanda Anne Reid, PLC, at 540-369-3064 to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your support matters. We offer free initial consultation to our criminal law clients. Our law office hours are Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and evenings and weekends by request. Attorney Amanda Reid is always available by email. We accept major credit cards. Learn more about our fees.
