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Steve and Renee were great to work with! Very professional and realistic. Gave no false expectations or predictions. They communicated everything to us in a timely manner. We will definitely use them again if ever needed! Thank you, Steve and your team!

Kara

For my family law case, Steve Smith had a very strong presence and was dominant in the courtroom. The manner in which he carries out cases is something you see in the movies. He was really animated and passionate about my case. His military background is a big asset, and he really helped me out. I would highly recommend him.

Chad

We hired Leah M. Baldacci for a family law case and she was so extremely helpful and got me through my case. She’s very professional and takes the time to listen to her clients. She’s a wonderful advocate and a fantastic attorney. If you’re looking for a great attorney, I recommend Leah. Thank you so much for your legal help.

Anonymous Client

I’ve hired Steve for two cases, and I am very pleased with my decision. He fights for his clients and strives for the best outcome. His entire staff is pleasant and wonderful to work with.

Amber

I hired Steve for a parental rights case involving my 2 children. He was aggressive but supportive and did not file unnecessary motions that wasted my retainer. I was terrified of court, but with his experience, I felt at ease. The process was explained, and his staff was great as well. I would hire him again if needed and received a great outcome with an order that works for me and my children.

Handled my Parental Rights Case with Ease

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Maine Child Support Attorneys

Maine Child Support Attorneys

When two parents divorce or decide not to live together, they are both responsible for continuing the financial support of their child. Parents who cannot reach an agreement about their child’s financial support must seek a child support order from the court. The amounts awarded can vary greatly, so you want to make sure that your child support order is fair and reasonable, whether you are paying or receiving. 

Knowledgeable Litigators Defending Your Interests In Child Support Cases

As a Certified Financial Litigator, attorney Steve Smith knows how to handle complex income analysis for support purposes and other financial matters in your case. While other attorneys may simply default to the state guidelines for support, Steve and his team never settle for the easy answer. We understand how to analyze your unique financial circumstances and seek a fair child support award. Always seek help from a Maine child support lawyer from STEVE SMITH Trial Lawyers for your child support matter. 

How Child Support is Determined

Child Support is determined by statute and is calculated based on the number of children shared by the parents, the ages of the children, and the gross income earned by the parents.  Your Family Law Trial Lawyer will help you complete a Child Support Affidavit at the outset of your family law matter, which will be utilized for this calculation.

The Court will complete a Child Support Worksheet to calculate Weekly or Bi-Weekly Child Support.  Considerations when determining the amount of Child Support include whether there is a Primary Care Provider, where the children live with one parent most of the time, or whether the parents provide substantially equal care for the children.  

The parent who provides financially for certain child-related expenses will receive credit for these expenses; this will also impact the total Child Support amount due from one parent to the other.  These expenses include:

  • the health care insurance for the children;
  • child care expenses for the children; and/or
  • extraordinary medical expenses for the children.

Your Family Law Trial Lawyer may also request that the Court determine the percentage of uninsured medical expenses that each parent will be responsible for in the event the children receive medical care that is not covered by insurance.

Although Child Support is largely a mathematically-driven process based on the numerical table provided by statute, there is room to argue for adjustments to the presumptive values.  A Family Law Trial Lawyer will be able to advise you on whether you should request a deviation from the standard Child Support calculation.  Some circumstances which may suggest a deviation from the standard Child Support calculation is necessary to include the following:

  • whether a parent financially supports another child that lives in the home that is not subject to the pending family matter;
  • whether the children currently receive dependent benefits as a result of the obligor’s disability; 
  • whether the child has graduated from high school after reaching the age of 18; and 
  • other circumstances specific to the parent’s financial situation.

In these situations, your Family Law Trial Lawyer will provide the Court with arguments regarding why not deviating from the presumptive amount of Child Support required by the Child Support Guidelines would be inequitable or unjust.

Lastly, your Family Law Trial Lawyer will help you determine whether an Income Withholding Order is necessary to facilitate payments of Child Support.

Trusted Attorneys

On Your Side

Family law matters are often challenging, and you need a tenacious attorney to protect your best interests. Whether you’re facing a divorce or a custody battle, our lawyers are prepared to safeguard your future.

Proven Success

steve smith & jack baldacci

“We hired Leah M. Baldacci at Steve Smith for a family law case, and she was so extremely helpful and got me through a difficult time. She’s very professional and takes the time to listen to her clients. She’s a wonderful advocate and a fantastic attorney. If you are looking for a divorce attorney that actually cares, I recommend Leah. Thank you so much for your help.”

– Carlton

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Advocating For Your Family

To Protect What’s Important

We understand that your priority is to secure a better future, whether that’s through a divorce or by modifying your parenting arrangements. Our skilled attorneys use every resource at our disposal to overcome obstacles. Our full commitment to you drives us to achieve outstanding results.

To learn more about the cases we work with, please view our Practice Areas.

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