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In spite of the fact the adults are divorcing, and will soon be living new, separate lives has little to do with the Family Court’s responsibility to look out for the children. In many cases, the Court’s decision is made in spite of any objection by divorcing parents. The Court wants to ensure that any decision parents make regarding the children are not made for the best interests of the adult parents, but is instead made for the best interests of the minor children.
In making the decision regarding which of the two households in which the children will be primarily placed, the Court views the non-custodial parent as having a duty to provide monetary support for the children. After all, it would not be fair for only one parent to bear the monetary burden that comes with raising children. The Court will, therefore, order the non-custodial parent to pay child support to the custodial parent on behalf of the children.
The Court uses guidelines that are used in every Family Court case in South Carolina involving children. One of the major factors the Court weights the amount of income each parent earns. The Court then reviews the “Child Support Guidelines” provided it, and then determines the amount of child support the non-custodial parent must pay. The Guidelines are mandatorily used, and seldom does a Family Court in South Carolina stray from those Guidelines.
Choosing the right Mediator can help divorcing parents understand those Guidelines, and allow each parent to discuss his or her feelings. Mainly, the Mediator can help the couple agree to look out for the whatever is best for their children going forward.
Marie Cooper is such a Certified and Trained Mediator, who can help divorcing parents understand these issues by guiding them through the maze of Guidelines used by the Family Courts in South Carolina. Ask your Family Court attorney to contact Marie Cooper to Mediate your Family Court matter. You will be happy you did.
