Important spousal and child support facts

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has revealed that a little over 40 per cent of marriages end in divorce, with 60 per cent of second marriages and over 70 per cent of third marriages going the same route. With these facts, spousal and child support has become a relevant topic in American society. Here are some facts that people should know about spousal and child support:
• In North Carolina there are two types of spousal support: temporary alimony (Post Separation Support), and alimony.

• The cost and duration of spousal support depends on a number of factors. Some of these factors include length of the marriage, time separated during the marriage, ages of both husband and wife during the divorce, how much the parties are earning each, health of husband and wife, and whether or not there was marital misconduct by either pary.

• States have their own rules for child support. In North Carolina, child support is most often calculated by the using the North Carolina Child Support Guidelines. How much child support is owed will depend on the type of custody you have, how many overnights you have with the child(ren), and the income of both parents.

• Most of the time, parents who don’t pay child support are subjected to heavy penalties such as the seizing of tax returns and/or properties and even incarceration.

• Parents that receive child support on behalf of their children do not need to pay income tax on the child support. Parents who pay for child support on the other hand, cannot deduct it from their income.