Tulsa Child Support Lawyers

How Is Child Support Calculated

The following factors are set by Oklahoma law to calculate child support:

• The gross (before taxes and other deductions) monthly income for each parent
• Monthly insurance costs for the minor child(ren)
• The number of overnights the child(ren) spend with each parent per year
• The number of other biological children living in each parent's respective home
• There are unique situations where a parent may be receiving disability income, VA income, or is self-employed that can factor into the calculation

How Is Child Support Enforced

If a parent fails to pay court ordered child support in the full amount or on time, the following options are available for enforcement:

• An income assignment may be set where the child support is directly deducted from the obligor's paychecks and paid to the receiving parent
• A garnishment may be placed on the obligor's bank account to collect past due child support
• A tax lien may be placed on the obligor's income tax returns to collect past due child support
• When necessary, a contempt proceeding may be filed to enforce the payment of child support. This can subject the obligor to possible jail time as well as the enforcement of the payments. In these situations, the obligor may also be ordered to reimburse you for any attorney fees you incur in pursuing the payment of the court ordered child support.

Our Experienced Attorneys Can Help Establish and Enforce Child Support Orders

Shannon Brown worked for several years with the Oklahoma Child Support Services office and knows how to guide you in these processes.

Sara Schmook is a CPA, which provides her unique tools in reviewing financial documents of self-employed individuals for determining child support orders.

Child Support Questions We Hear Most in Tulsa

How is child support calculated in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma uses the Child Support Guidelines. The court combines the gross monthly income of both parents, applies the guideline amount for the number of children, adds the cost of health insurance and work related child care, and splits the total between the parents in proportion to their incomes. When a parent has the children for 121 or more overnights a year, a shared parenting adjustment lowers that parent's share. Read our article on how child support is calculated in Oklahoma for a worked example.

How long does child support last in Oklahoma?

Until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school and attending regularly, support continues until graduation or age 20, whichever comes first. Support for a child with a disability can continue longer by court order.

Can child support be changed after the order is entered?

Yes, but it is not automatic. A parent must ask the court or Oklahoma Child Support Services to modify the order when there has been a material change in circumstances, such as a significant change in either parent's income, a change in the parenting schedule, or a change in insurance or child care costs.

What happens if the other parent does not pay?

Oklahoma gives you several enforcement tools: an income assignment that takes the support directly from the paying parent's paycheck, garnishment of bank accounts, interception of tax refunds, suspension of driver's and professional licenses, and a contempt action that can result in jail time. The court can also order the nonpaying parent to reimburse your attorney fees.

Do I still have to pay child support if I am not allowed to see my child?

Yes. Child support and visitation are separate court orders. A parent who is denied visitation should ask the court to enforce the visitation order; stopping support payments is not a legal remedy and will create arrears with interest.

Can the parents agree to a different amount than the guidelines?

The court must approve any amount that differs from the guidelines. A judge will only approve a deviation when the reasons are stated in the order and the amount is in the best interests of the child. Our attorneys can help you document a deviation that the court will accept.