Explains how to arrive at a fair child support settlement, discusses the problem of delinquent payments, and suggests ways to improve the system

Contents: The basics -- Establishing parentage -- Calculating child support -- Agreeing to child support -- Filing for child support -- Enforcement tools -- Enforcing your order -- Modification -- Termination -- Appeal -- Finding the law -- The role of lawyers.

"Gathers in one place annotations of all the major legal literature on child support issues published since 1975." Intended primarily for those in research, policy development, legislation, and litigation. Includes miscellaneous literature, e.g., books, journal articles, and laws. Topical arrangement. Appendixes consist of lists of federal legislative materials and titles available through the National Child Support Enforcement Center. No index.

Child Support Guidelines, Second Edition is the only comprehensive guidebook for determining child support awards that takes practitioners step-by-step through the interpretation and application of the guidelines and their worksheets in both the normal and exceptional child support case. This unique publication thoroughly covers each state's version of one of the three basic models for determining child support: the percentage of income model, the income shares model, and the Melson formula. Important issues affecting calculations are clearly explained, including: Definition of andquot;incomeandquot; under the guidelines The impact of divided custody, shared custody, split custody, and extended visitation Second household expenses, other dependents, subsequent children, and stepchildren Impact of a private contract on the court's decision to apply the guideline amount Deviation from the guidelines for a high income parent Deviation from the guidelines to pay for medical expenses, private school, and child care expenses Imputed income Modification of prior awards And more.