Birmingham Child Support & Custody Lawyer

In every Alabama divorce that involves minor children, child support and custody are critical issues that must be resolved to the satisfaction of the court before your case can be finalized. These issues can also arise in post-divorce situations where modifications to or enforcement of current court orders may be needed. A determination on these issues can also be pursued in the legal system after paternity has been established in cases involving never-married parents of minor children.

At Ruth Robinson Law, our family law attorney understands the complexities, sensitivity, and emotional factors that can be involved in both custody and support determinations. As a parent, you are rightly concerned about your children’s welfare and your parental rights moving forward when the family is divided. 

As a parent herself, Attorney Robinson understands the uncertainty and stress you may face in such matters. Our firm is here to provide compassionate but objective and professional legal representation in seeking an optimum outcome that protects your rights while aligning with the court’s policy of doing what is in the child’s best interests. 

Reserve your consultation appointment with our Birmingham child support and custody attorney. We can be reached by email or phone at (205) 984-1915 for assistance.

Child Support in Alabama

Alabama child support is determined primarily based on specific guidelines by the state. These guidelines use an “income shares model” where both parents' gross incomes are combined. Each parent’s support obligation is then proportionally assigned based on their share of the combined income. Furthermore, the number of children and the cost of childcare can also directly impact the calculated support amount.

Courts generally rely on the calculated amount per state guidelines. However, the court may adjust the standard child support calculation in certain circumstances. This could occur if a child has special needs, extraordinary medical or educational expenses, if the paying parent has an unusually high or low income, a parent has unusually high transportation costs for visitation, or if the child spends a significant amount of time with the parent who is making the child support payments. 

These adjustments aim to ensure that the child support order is fair, reflects the child's best interests, and maintains a standard of living for the child that they would have had if the parents had remained together.   

Child Custody & Visitation in Alabama

Custody refers to your parental rights and responsibilities in caring for a minor child, including the authority to make major life decisions about the child’s education, healthcare, religious practices, and other significant issues. 

In Alabama, child custody involves two primary components: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody refers to the parent's authority to make significant decisions, as mentioned above, while physical custody pertains to the child's living arrangements.

The above custody forms can be categorized into two types: 1. Sole custody, in which one parent retains the rights and responsibilities mentioned above, and 2. Joint custody, in which parents share those rights and responsibilities. 

Courts operate based on what is best for the child. Thus, they generally favor joint custody arrangements in which the child’s relationship with both parents will continue on a frequent and meaningful basis. 

However, physical custody may be impacted by the proximity of the two parental households. In some cases, it may be determined that significant distance may interfere with the child’s daycare, education, or social life. 

Parents can agree about custody arrangements and present their case to the court for approval. Courts typically approve such plans if they are in the child’s best interests. In such cases, the agreement becomes a part of the court's orders, making it legally binding.

Where parents cannot agree, the court will intervene and determine the issue based on numerous relevant factors. These factors can include each parent's ability to meet the child's needs, the child's relationship with each parent, the overall safety and stability of each parent's home, and other pertinent factors.

Custody Modifications

Modification of an existing custody order or visitation schedule is often needed to accommodate your changing circumstances or a child’s changing needs. If circumstances change at work or home, severe injury or illness occurs, or if it becomes clear that a former partner is unfit to parent, your existing child custody agreement may be unworkable.

Our attorney can help you seek justifiable changes in court orders in these circumstances. 

Turn to Ruth Robinson Law for Child-Related Issues

If you face a child custody or support issue as part of your divorce, separation, or as the next step after paternity has been established, our firm is here to help. 

Child visitation and parenting schedules must accommodate the needs of all concerned. By taking the time to understand your unique family situation and your child’s needs, we can help you seek a detailed custody and visitation schedule that minimizes the chances of future conflicts and misunderstandings.

Request an appointment for a consultation by contacting us at (205) 984-1915.