questions & answers

Question: The father doesn’t pay for any expenses of our 1 year old. The baby is with me 24/7 he visits every once in a while for maybe an hour a week but doesn’t bring anything or try to help. I have been seeing into putting him on child support since I do not currently work and my parents (baby’s grandparents) are basically the ones paying for all the expenses but I looked into the “child support calculator” and only $50 a month comes up as what he would pay and I’m wondering if it’s even worth going through the trouble for such a low amount. Is that thing accurate or would I have to talk to a lawyer?

Answer: It is impossible to say without being privy to your calculations, but $50/month does sound very low.  You may want to give your parents all the information and have them double check your math.  I am sure you know if you have done the worksheet that the court attributes income to both parents if they do not work.  If you want to talk to a lawyer, there are several options.  There are three programs in Arizona that you can use to get inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the modest means program.  You will need to apply for the program and meet the financial qualifications.  Once you are qualified, Modest Means will send you a list of attorneys whose practice covers your area of concern.  You select a lawyer from the list and will be entitled to a one hour consultation for $75.  If you need additional help and if the lawyer agrees to take your case, the most you will be charged is  $75 per  hour.  The telephone number is (866) 637-5341.  Both Maricopa and Pima Counties have lawyer referral programs that offer a 30 minute consult with an attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers its 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney for $40.  The telephone number is (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute attorney consult for $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.