Helping Parents Navigate Child Support Issues
While relationships between parents may end, the parent-child relationship lasts a lifetime. When married parents divorce or unmarried parents separate, both remain responsible for the care and well-being of minor children. It is often necessary for one parent to provide the other with child support payment so that the child maintains a stable and fulfilling life.
At The Law Office of Shauna T. Hagan, LLC, we are committed to protecting our client’s parental rights and the best interests of their children. We provide skilled and attentive representation to people facing family law problems in Wilmington and throughout Delaware.
How Is Child Support Determined?
In Delaware, child support is determined by the Delaware child support formula, also known as the “Melson Model,” which takes into account:
- The number of children
- The income of each parent
- The needs of the children
- The basic support needs of each parent
While these determinations are typically straightforward, factors such as self-employment, hidden income or a sudden layoff can complicate a child support case. No matter how complex the legal issues, the child’s needs remain at the forefront. We are prepared to handle any child support issue you face, in addition to child custody, paternity and related family law matters.
We can guide you through initial child support proceedings as well as any modification or enforcement issues that arise in the future.
What Does Delaware Child Support Cover?
A parent’s child support obligations exist to help ensure that children have consistent access to the resources they need for health, safety and well‑being. The guidelines used in Delaware focus on meeting the child’s essential needs so that both parents contribute fairly to daily living costs.
Child support generally covers expenses that support the child’s basic needs and ongoing development. These often include:
- Housing costs: This includes rent, utilities and household necessities that help maintain a safe and stable home environment.
- Food and clothing: Support ensures reliable access to nutritious meals and appropriate clothing for school, seasons and everyday use.
- Educational needs: Covered expenses often involve school supplies, activity fees and other items required for academic progress.
- Health care expenses: Support payments help cover medical, dental and vision care that is not paid by insurance.
- Additional needs: Transportation, age‑appropriate activities and other reasonable costs may be included depending on the circumstances.
These categories reflect Delaware’s goal of promoting financial stability for children regardless of changes in their parents’ relationship.
How Long Must Parents Pay Child Support In Delaware?
Delaware law generally requires child support to continue until the child reaches the age of majority. The typical endpoint is the child’s eighteenth birthday, although certain situations may extend the obligation.
Support may continue if the child is still in high school when they turn eighteen. The support may also extend when a child has significant physical or developmental needs that limit independence. Courts evaluate these exceptions individually to determine what is appropriate and necessary in each case.
What If Parents Do Not Pay Child Support In Delaware?
Delaware provides several enforcement tools to address unpaid child support and encourage compliance with court orders.
Common enforcement actions include wage garnishment, which allows payments to be deducted directly from the paying parent’s income. The state may also suspend the nonpaying parent’s driver’s license, recreational licenses or professional licenses when support falls behind.
Additionally, courts can impose contempt findings when a parent willfully fails to meet obligations, which may result in fines or other penalties. Tax refund interception and liens on property are additional methods used to collect overdue support.
Our lawyer can initiate enforcement action, request appropriate remedies and use the available legal tools to compel compliance with support orders.
Speak With An Attorney Who Protects Your Rights
Attorney Shauna T. Hagan is here to guide you through all aspects of child support proceedings in Delaware. To arrange a legal consultation with an experienced child support lawyer, contact our law office online or by telephone at (302) 321-6489.