Thinking about child support hearings often puts many people in a state of worry or panic, as a stranger (a judge) will be determining how much they are to give or receive to or from a former partner to aid in caring for their children. There’s no need to fret, though, as judges have a vast amount of experience dealing with child support cases and will use all of the necessary resources to make their final decision.
There are some things you can do to get ahead of things and prepare for your hearing, which may also help put your mind at ease.
Check the Mail
This tip may seem silly, but this is something that many people do not do as often as they should. You should be checking your mail often, especially if you are dealing with a court case of any kind. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and push your mail to the backburner, but the correspondence you receive could be extremely important.
You may receive information from your former partner, your lawyer, the courts, or even your former partner’s lawyer. By checking the mail often, you avoid mistakes and delays that could cause problems in your case and leave you unprepared for your hearing.
Be Realistic
Don’t fool yourself and begin fantasizing about unrealistic plans or outcomes coming to life. When determining child support in Fresno CA, the courts will look at information that you and your former partner provide; they will also consult the state’s child support guidelines.
If it is suspected that one party is not being truthful about their income, it is important that you say something. If the courts suspect that an individual is engaging in voluntary impoverishment, their income will be imputed. This means that child support will be determined based on income that the parent has the potential of earning.
Stay Focused
Always remember the purpose of your hearings about child support in Fresno CA, which is so that the judge ca figure out how much you will either pay or receive in child support. These hearings are not the time to bring up other matters, such as visitation arrangements, as judges presiding over them are not authorized to work on these cases simultaneously.
You may want to say something while you are in the presence of an authority figure, but you should only be causing a distraction. During a child support hearing, focus only on matters related to child support and financial matters that affect your case.
By keeping these tips in mind when you are preparing to go to court for a child support hearing, you will be cool, calm, and collected knowing that you are ready. Check your mail often and read letters to ensure that you have all the information needed before your hearing, be realistic about what to expect so that you don’t leave the court room disappointed, and stay focused on child support matters during your hearing.
