Although you do not need a lawyer to pursue a child support case, you should consider hiring one. A family lawyer specializes in family law and can help you navigate the process. In some cases, you may need to hire a private attorney.
Not all divorces qualify for alimony. Courts consider factors like the length of marriage, income disparity between spouses, and ability to be self-sufficient.
There are a few ways to file: Visit the Family Court where your court order was issued and complete a Support Petition for Modification form (also known as form 4-11). Call the Family Court where your child support order was issued and they will mail you the Support Petition for Modification form.
Spousal maintenance is normally durational that is, it has a set duration, normally long enough for the payee spouse to become self-sufficient. However, there are cases, given age, health and inability to support themselves, that the payee may be awarded nondurational or permanent alimony.
Typically, the judge will take 20% of the lower-earning spouse's income and subtract that number from 30% of the higher-earning spouse's income. For example, one spouse makes $100,000, and the other makes $20,000. Thirty percent of $100,000 is $30,000, and 20% of $20,000 is $4,000.
In New York, spousal support/ maintenance is determined by a guideline calculator based upon the income of the two parties and the length of their marriage. The Court is allowed to deviate from the guideline amount based on a number of potential rebuttal factors, however, such deviations are rare.
Typically, the judge will take 20% of the lower-earning spouse's income and subtract that number from 30% of the higher-earning spouse's income. For example, one spouse makes $100,000, and the other makes $20,000. Thirty percent of $100,000 is $30,000, and 20% of $20,000 is $4,000.
You can get Spousal Support through Family Court. A Support Magistrate will handle your case – not a Judge. Support Magistrates only hear Child Support and Spousal Support cases. It isn't necessary for you to have a lawyer in Family Court, but you can get one if you want.