Bronx Child Support Lawyer

Helping Clients Determine Child Support in the State of New York 

Settling important matters of child custody can be a problematic issue in a divorce case. A directly related question to custody is how children's raising will be paid for. How the question of child support is settled will be crucial to both the kids' well-being and the parents' financial stability.  

Our family law firm has a real family atmosphere. With a tight-knit staff and a thorough understanding of the law, customer satisfaction and positive outcomes are the top priorities. Jayson Lutzky is a Bronx child support lawyer with thousands of cases in an award-winning career dating back to 1985. He leads a talented team with an associate attorney, three dedicated paralegals, and beneficial partnerships with other lawyers if your case goes to trial. Trust our passionate, educated, and fully bilingual staff to care for you. 

Call Jayson Lutzky today at (718) 550-2881 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our child support attorney in the Bronx! 

Child Support Expenses in New York

New York puts the expenses associated with raising children into two different buckets. The first one is called basic needs. As the name suggests, this refers to the bread-and-butter basics of living—food, clothing, and a roof over one’s head. Then the state considers the add-ons. This name isn’t quite as perfect, because some things—like medical care—that might be considered basic, are still put into the adds-on bucket. Childcare, if the custodial parent is working, is another important expense that the state considers an add-on. 

How is Child Support Determined in New York?

The sum total of the basic needs and add-ons is what the state of New York will consider the cost of raising the child. Then, courts will look at the income each parent is earning and combine with the number of children that are being supported to come up with a basic figure. If there is one child to be raised, 17 percent of the combined income must go to child support. Two children increases that to 25 percent. There are gradual incremental increases in the percentage until it tops out at 35 percent for 5+ children. 

It's common for parents to earn different levels of income, especially if one of them had primary responsibility for raising the children during the marriage. Therefore, how that total cost of raising children must be divided appropriately between the parents. The way this is done is to simply figure out what proportion of the combined income each spouse earns, and then assign them the same proportion of the child-rearing costs. 

All of this establishes a benchmark for child support, but every couple’s situation is different, and judges do have discretion. That can make the work of an attorney important in documenting and advocating for any changes to the formula. 

When Does Child Support End in New York?

In New York, the court typically determines the duration of child support payments on a case-by-case basis. Generally, most orders stipulate that payments must continue until the child turns 21. However, an exception to this rule can be made if the child is attending college or any other form of higher education. In these cases, some courts may extend payments until graduation or beyond. Some courts may also require parents to provide medical and dental coverage for their children until they turn 21.

Are you looking to formulate a child support order? Contact Jayson Lutzky today to get started!