Child Support

Helping Clients Protect their Children's Way of Life

The determination of child support can be complicated, especially for families with a high-income level. The court has little discretion in child support amounts for families with incomes less than $80,000 per year. When your yearly income exceeds that threshold, the court can deviate more from statutory guidelines when determining child support awards.

At the Law Offices of Joy Y. Frank, we represent many families who seek to deviate from New York's child support guidelines. Centrally located in White Plains, we proudly represent clients throughout Westchester County, New York, from diverse cultures, social and economic backgrounds with important child support needs.

For more than 13 years, our law firm's founding attorney — Joy Y. Frank — has helped dozens of clients with child support determinations and disputes. She is well-versed on how the New York Child Support Standard Act affects middle and lower-income families. Discover how these changes could impact you and your family during a consultation at our firm — contact us today.

New York Child Support Guidelines

The child support statute gives courts a tool to provide parents with financial assistance to care for their children. According to state law, the non-custodial parent must pay a pro-rata share of 17 percent of the adjusted gross income of both parents for one child, and a pro-rata share of 25 percent for two. Attorney Frank can assist you with determining the correct statutory child support amount for your family.

The statute provides for certain deviations from the standard formula in determining the gross income of both parents. This is important in order for the award to reflect the true financial status of you and your spouse.

High Income Deviations

When a family's income exceeds $80,000, the court can more easily deviate from the child support guidelines. The higher the income, the less justification the court needs to increase the monthly award. The court's goal is to order enough child support to maintain the lifestyle of children, yet still prevent them from receiving a windfall. Whenever appropriate, we will argue for whatever deviations are necessary to accurately reflect the true financial situation of your family.

Ready to Meet Your Legal Needs

To learn more about child support awards, contact attorney Frank in Westchester County. Reference our family law center for additional background information.