La Plata Child Support Lawyer

Ensuring Fair and Accurate Support for Your Child’s Needs

Child support is one of the most important aspects of any family law case involving children, including divorce and child custody disputes. Child support orders provide financial stability and help ensure that a child’s needs are met, regardless of each parent’s living situation. Whether you are the parent seeking support or the one being asked to pay, having a knowledgeable and experienced attorney on your side is crucial to achieving a fair and appropriate outcome.

At Fanning Law, we guide clients in La Plata and throughout Charles County through every step of the child support process. With over 30 years of experience practicing family law in Southern Maryland, Attorney William C. Fanning, Jr. is a La Plata child support lawyer who understands how local courts approach child support matters and how to protect your rights and your child’s best interests.

How Child Support Is Calculated in Maryland

Maryland uses a standardized formula to calculate child support. The formula, set out in the Maryland Child Support Guidelines, considers several key pieces of information, such as:

Each parent’s actual or potential income
The number of children being supported
The cost of health insurance and extraordinary medical expenses for the children
Work-related childcare expenses
Any alimony being paid or received
Custody arrangements, including the number of overnights the child spends with each parent

This formula is designed to ensure consistency and fairness across the state. The goal is to divide the financial responsibility for raising a child in proportion to each parent’s ability to contribute.

Financial disclosures are a key component of the child support calculation, and each party is required to submit a financial statement to the court. The accuracy of a child support determination depends on full and truthful financial disclosures from both parents. If one parent misrepresents their income or fails to disclose assets, it can lead to an unfair support order that either overburdens one parent or shortchanges the child.

In most cases, the court uses each parent’s actual income—what they currently earn from employment, self-employment, or other sources. However, in some situations, the court may assign an “imputed income” if a parent is unemployed or underemployed without good reason. This means the court will estimate what that parent could be earning based on factors such as work history, education and skills, and job opportunities in the area. This practice is intended to prevent a parent from evading child support obligations by deliberately avoiding work or working below their potential.

Related to imputed income is the concept of voluntary impoverishment. If the court finds that a parent has intentionally reduced their income or assets to avoid paying child support, it can impute income and calculate support based on what the parent could be earning, rather than what they are currently earning. Proving voluntary impoverishment requires evidence of intent, and it is often a contested issue.

As your attorney, William C. Fanning, Jr. will help ensure that you and your co-parent provide complete and accurate information. This may involve reviewing tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements, or business records. If necessary, we can use discovery tools such as subpoenas or depositions to obtain the evidence needed to support your case.

Deviations from the Child Support Guidelines

While the Maryland Child Support Guidelines provide a baseline, courts do have the discretion to order a higher or lower amount in certain cases. This is called a “deviation” from the guidelines. A deviation may be appropriate when, for instance:

The combined parental income exceeds the guideline threshold
A child has special needs or extraordinary expenses
One parent incurs significant travel costs for visitation
A parent has other children or support obligations
Application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in the particular case

The court must explain any deviation in writing, and the decision must still align with the child’s best interests. Whether you are requesting or opposing a deviation, Attorney Fanning can help build a persuasive case tailored to your unique circumstances.

Enforcing and Modifying Child Support Orders in La Plata

Once a child support order is in place, it is legally binding. If a parent falls behind on payments or refuses to comply, the other parent can seek enforcement through the court. This may involve wage garnishment, interception of tax refunds, suspension of licenses, or even contempt proceedings.

Similarly, if a parent’s financial situation changes significantly—such as a job loss, promotion, remarriage, or the needs of the child evolving—either parent can request a modification of the existing order. To be successful, the requesting parent must demonstrate a material change in circumstances.

Fanning Law can help you evaluate whether enforcement or modification is appropriate and guide you through the legal process with clarity and support.

How a Child Support Lawyer Can Help in Your Child Support Case

Child support law can be complex, especially when parents disagree on income, expenses, or parenting time. An experienced attorney can:

Help you understand your rights and obligations
Ensure the child support guidelines are applied correctly
Investigate and verify financial disclosures
Argue for or against imputed income or voluntary impoverishment
Advocate for or contest deviations from the guidelines
Assist with enforcement or modification proceedings

Attorney Fanning brings decades of insight and a deep commitment to helping parents achieve just outcomes for their children. We’ll work with you to craft a child support arrangement that reflects your family’s reality and protects your child’s well-being.

Serving Families in La Plata and Throughout Charles County

Fanning Law proudly represents clients in La Plata, Waldorf, Benedict, Newburg, White Plains, and across Charles County and Southern Maryland. Whether you’re initiating a support case, modifying an existing order, or dealing with enforcement, we are ready to provide knowledgeable, compassionate, and results-driven representation.

Get Trusted Guidance for Your La Plata Child Support Matter

Don’t face a child support issue alone. Let Fanning Law stand by your side and guide you through the legal process with care and confidence. Contact us today to share your needs and concerns and find out how we can help.