questions & answers

Question: I have had a good job working overseas for the past 3 years. i am now moving back home for good, taking a very large pay cut because i want equal custody of my kids. If we go back to court can I have the child support removed because we will now have joint custody and I will have taken a significant pay cut.

Answer: When you go back to court, the issue will be decided if you include both a request for joint custody and a request for a decrease in child support in your paperwork.  Whether the judge will eliminate, rather than decrease child support, will depend on a number of factors as outlined in the child support guidelines.  Things like the relative incomes of the mom and the dad, the amount of time each parent will have the children, who pays for health insurance, clothing, food, etc.  Go to the website for the Superior Court of Arizona, look in the self-help section and access the child support guidelines under family law.  You will find the criteria and methods of calculation listed there.  Go to: http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/SuperiorCourt/LawLibraryResourceCenter/Forms/FamilyCourt/index.asp.