Phoenix Establishment of Child Support Attorneys Protecting What Matters Most

If you are a single parent, you may need more than just child support services and not even know it. Many divorced or separated parents try to tackle the child support system on their own. It’s always smarter to talk with a lawyer to understand every option you have.

Our legal team provides compassion, perspective, and solutions backed by effective courtroom advocacy. Establishing child support doesn’t need to be a daunting experience. Our custody attorneys have a diverse set of family law practice areas, so we understand the full scope of legal custody issues. There are other factors, such as establishing paternity and creating a parenting plan, which is often overlooked in the child support legal process. You may need more child custody services than you’re aware of. Our Phoenix family attorneys are here to help.

What Steps Should I Take as a Single Parent to Ensure the Best Interest of My Child?

Parents who were never married have the same rights and responsibilities regarding custody and childcare as those who are. Arizona Family Law Attorneys can help establish paternity if you are not legally married to the father of your child. Establishing paternity is essential. A father has absolutely no legal parental rights unless paternity has been established. If necessary, a family law attorney can demand a court-ordered paternity test to prove fatherhood. It’s advisable for fathers to legally establish paternity regardless of the relationship he has with the child’s mother.

Do You Need to Establish Paternity?

Establishing paternity legally recognizes a man as the father of the child, which ensures that he will be able to have visitation and can provide support to the child throughout his or her lifetime. If a father has established paternity, he can set up visitation and designated parenting time. Only a child support attorney can represent parents in these types of situations. We help fathers establish visitation, file for joint legal custody, and set up child support payments. We advocate for both fathers and mothers to ensure the best interest of their children. For unmarried couples, providing for your child is much more than just filing for child support payments. There are many other factors, including establishing paternity, that many people fail to realize exists.

Establishing paternity and the parenting plan are often overlooked aspects of child support care. In addition to determining an adequate monthly financial payment from one parent to the other, these other factors of co-parenting can proactively address situations that often arise in the future. It’s best to have a comprehensive plan in place to provide the best care for your child.
Once paternity is established, setting up parenting time is important if both parents want to be involved in their child’s life. For unmarried parents, it can be a challenge to decide when the child spends time with their mother and when they switch and stay with the father. Many couples attempt to settle these situations outside of court. This may seem to work in the short term, but the future is unpredictable, and any kind of obstacle can arise. It’s in the parents’ and the child’s best interests to consult with an attorney and set up a parenting plan.

What Should You Consider When Drafting a Parenting Plan?

A parenting plan establishes a specific framework for legal custody of a child split between both parents. A strong parenting plan includes a schedule regarding pickup and drop-off to keep the child on a consistent visitation schedule. The more consistent and predictable the parenting plan is, the easier it becomes for both parents to adhere to it. Both parents can negotiate and agree on holidays and vacation visitations, as well. Every child has a unique lifestyle. If your child is involved in sports, extracurricular activities, or has a job, the parenting plan can determine which parent will assume which responsibility to co-parent smoothly. We strive to negotiate the best possible parenting time arrangement in the best interests of the children but now it’s essential to make the plan as simple to follow for parents as possible.

Can We Make Things Easier for Your Family?

We help Phoenix, Arizona families reach the most efficient means of child support—financially, emotionally, and physically. At our law firm, your child’s needs always come first. We work hard to certify that every resolution is fair, practical, and works in the best interest of your family. As child support lawyers, we’re skilled in reaching agreements through negotiation and mediation. If you and your co-parent cannot reach an amicable decision, we can advocate on your behalf in the county and provide legal services that support your stance. We have flexible appointment times and have offices throughout the Phoenix region. Call us at (480) 268-9393 and let us help you. You don’t have to do it alone.