From the Book: Divorce Amicably
This is a chapter summary from Chapter 6 of  Divorce Amicably, a guide to navigating separation with dignity and cooperation.
Chapter 46 Author: Holly Schymik
Holly Schymik assists clients in making significant life changes such as divorce or adoption. She has extensive training in both collaborative law and mediation and focuses on creating cost-effective solutions to legal issues.
Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1999, Holly has more than100 hours of training in both collaborative law and mediation. She has served as secretary, vice-chair and chairperson of Collaborative Law Dallas.
Chapter 46's Comprehensive Guide to Child Support Laws
Child support seems straightforward—one parent pays the other to help raise the children—but the reality involves complex calculations, jurisdictional variations, and persistent myths that lead to costly mistakes. In this essential chapter, board-certified family law attorney Holly Schymik breaks down the two primary calculation methods (income shares versus percentage models), explains why the same income can result in vastly different support amounts depending on your state, and reveals enforcement mechanisms that can reach across state lines to garnish wages or suspend licenses.
Schymik addresses critical nuances often overlooked: why 50-50 custody doesn't eliminate child support when incomes differ, how "voluntary underemployment" prevents parents from avoiding obligations by quitting jobs, and why support might extend beyond age 18 for college students or special needs children. She debunks dangerous myths, including the widespread misconception that custodial parents must provide receipts for spending—a belief that creates unnecessary conflict when courts actually trust custodial parents to meet children's needs without micromanagement.
Four Critical Child Support Facts from Chapter 46
Who Needs Chapter 46's Child Support Education
This chapter is essential for any divorcing parent who will pay or receive child support, those confused by online calculators giving wildly different results, and parents planning to relocate who need to understand multi-state enforcement. It's crucial reading for those considering career changes that might affect support obligations.
Perfect for parents attempting 50-50 custody to avoid support (but who have income disparities), those believing they can negotiate away child support entirely, and anyone frustrated by myths about receipt requirements or spending oversight. Whether you're establishing initial support or dealing with modifications, Schymik's comprehensive guide ensures you understand both your obligations and your rights.
Get your copy of "Divorce Amicably" today and learn how child support actually works versus what people think—because misunderstanding these rules can result in enforcement actions that affect your employment, licenses, and freedom.
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