At the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess, we understand that child support determinations are often some of the most important issues in family law proceedings. Thomas Dickson leads a team of experienced and dedicated lawyers and legal assistants who work tirelessly to make sure you receive the best possible result for you and your child. If you have a contested child support case in Seattle or Tacoma, please do not hesitate to contact one of our offices for assistance.

Child support may arise in many types of family-related cases

Though child support determinations are often associated with divorce, this issue may come up outside of divorce cases. In fact, the court will make sure child support orders are appropriate in almost every family case involving children. Such cases may include:

• Paternity
• Custody determinations between non-married parents
• Parenting plan or custody modifications
• Child relocation
• Third party custody
• Enforcement or modification of child support rulings

No matter what type of case you are facing, if child support is at issue, you should always consult with an experienced child support attorney.

Washington child support determinations should be fair for both parents

Child support determinations should allow the receiving parent to adequately care for the child, but should also not prohibit the paying parent from covering their own basic needs and expenses. For this reason, child support calculations in Washington are based on a formula set out in state law RCW 26.19.020. To give you an estimate of the amount of child support you may receive or be required to pay, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) provides a basic calculator on their website.

This calculator, however, does not take into consideration any unique complications you may have in your case and there is absolutely no guarantee a court child support order will match this amount. Many circumstances may affect the amount of a child support order, such as special needs of the child, education arrangements, and more.

Contact our experienced Seattle and Tacoma child support lawyers for help today

Whether you are on the receiving or paying end of a child support determination, the experienced attorneys at Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess can help you. You should not risk an unfair child support determination by trying to represent yourself as you also risk the inability to support your family or yourself. WE OFFER PHONE CONSULTATIONS, SO PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL US TODAY AT 206-621-1110 (Seattle), 253-572-1000 (Tacoma), 360-742-3500 (Olympia), 971-416-0881 (Portland). We understand the emotional and sensitive nature of family-related cases, and you can trust we will keep the best interests of you and your child in mind at all times.