Child and Spousal Support

At the law office of Diane S. Baker, Esquire, I provide a range of family law services to clients in the Harrisburg area.  If you have questions about child support or spousal support — whether you are the potential obligor or obligee — talk to a family law attorney who can explain your legal options and responsibilities.

Contact my law office today.  An initial consultation is offered at the set rate of $100.  If you live out of the area or are otherwise unavailable to travel to my office during regular office hours an initial consultation by phone is available by request.

Child Support

In Pennsylvania, child support is determined by the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines which is a formula that considers both parents’ incomes, the number of children at issue, multi-family support considerations, expenses, and other factors.  Once a complaint for support is filed with the Office of Domestic Relations in the appropriate county, the court schedules a support conference in order to calculate the appropriate amount of support.  I utilize a software program that recreates the calculations used by the Office of Domestic Relations.  While it may not be necessary that you have an attorney attend the initial support conference with you, I always recommend that clients meet with me first in order to educate themselves about what to expect at the conference and know in advance the likely outcome.

If you do choose to be represented by counsel I can represent you at your support conference or appeal proceedings.  Additionally, I can represent you if you are seeking a modification of a current child support order.  A modification may become necessary after a change in the circumstances of either parent such as a change in employment or change in expenses such as medical insurance or day care.

Spousal Support

Divorce can be financially unsettling for an individual who was financially dependent upon his or her spouse.  Spousal support, also known as alimony pendente lite (APL), is a predetermined amount of money paid from one spouse to the other while the divorce action is pending.  Alimony is an amount paid to the dependent spouse after the divorce is finalized.  The goal of both spousal support/APL and alimony is to provide the receiving spouse with enough income to maintain a lifestyle similar to that established in marriage.

I can assist you with both initial spousal support payments and also in establishing permanent alimony as part of the resolution of your divorce.

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