Where you live can make a big difference in child support

Wisconsin basketball fans are familiar with Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, whose team won the NBA title this past season. Bosh has recently been to court regarding his child support case. The child support dispute is centered on Bosh’s state of legal residence. According to documents supplied in court, Bosh signed an affidavit in 2010 when he secured a mortgage for his multi-million dollar Florida home. The affidavit stated that the home was his primary residence and that he was a resident of the state of Florida. Bosh, however, contends that he is not a Florida resident. He contends that he voted in 2008 in Texas and that he does not have a Florida driver’s license.

Bosh’s residency is paramount to the child support dispute. If Bosh is considered to be a Texas resident, he will only be required to pay $2,600 a month for child support. However, if the court finds that he is a Florida resident, he could be ordered to pay as much as $30,000 a month for child support. The child is question is 3 years old, and the custody and child support cases have been in progress for the child’s entire life.

Courts in some states use child support guidelines to determine how much child support a parent should pay. Although a basic formula is used to compute the average child support based on the noncustodial parent’s income and number of children to support, other factors may affect the amount that is ordered.

Courts will consider the overall financial needs of the child, expenses that go toward raising a child, the child’s medical needs, everyday expenses, extracurricular expenses and the best interests of the child when determining how much child support to award. Family law attorneys are aware of these factors and can assist families with child support cases.

Source: The Miami Herald, “Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh grilled over residency in child support suit,” Aug. 26, 2012