Park City Child Support Lawyers

Representing Parents Across Summit County & Beyond

In any family law case, Utah courts prioritize the best interests of children. Apart from ensuring their physical and emotional well-being in matters of child custody, courts will also look to a child’s parents to ensure they uphold their legal obligations to provide financial support.

Whether you are a parent filing for divorce, or have a stand-alone case involving financial support, working with an experienced lawyer can make all the difference in your legal journey.

At Dodd & Kuendig, we’ve helped numerous parents and families navigate the legal system while protecting their rights and the best interests of their children. We’re available to personally discuss your case during a consultation.

Have questions about child support and how Dodd & Kuendig can help? Call us at (435) 296-7434 or contact us online. We offer same-day consultations in-person or by phone.

Utah Child Support Cases

Parents have a legal duty to support minor children, and in Utah, that duty persists until a child is 18 or completes high school (whichever is later), or until they are emancipated or parental rights are terminated.

Our legal team has experience helping clients address a range of child support issues, including those involving:

• Divorce (including military divorce)
• Paternity and unmarried parents
• Modifications of child support orders
• Child support enforcement
• Temporary orders

Child Support Calculations in Utah

The Utah Child Support Act (Utah Code 78B-12-105) creates a legal presumption that every child needs the support of their parents and that every mother and father must support their children. That includes financial support established by the Child Support Guidelines for:

• base child support;
• health care; and
• childcare expenses.

How Parent Income Plays a Factor

Under state guidelines, child support payments are calculated using the gross monthly income of both parents, and the number of overnights a child spends with each parent. Parents must provide documentation to verify income used in the support calculator (i.e. pay stubs, tax returns, etc.).

Even if a parent does not work, income may still be assigned to the parent (known as “imputed income”) for what they are capable of earning based on their work history, education, and employment opportunities. If there is no recent work history, or a parent’s occupation is unknown, the court may calculate support using the federal minimum wage. No income is imputed if:

• a parent is disabled and unable to earn income;
• the reasonable costs of childcare approach or equal the income the custodial parent can earn;
• a parent is participating in occupational training to establish basic job skills; or
• a child’s special needs require the custodial parent to remain home.

Overnights & Physical Custody

Physical custody–specifically, the number of overnights a child spends in each parent’s home–will also affect support. Generally, custody is assigned in one of three ways:

• Joint physical custody, where a child spends at least 111 days in each parent’s home
• Sole physical custody, where a child spends more than 225 days in one parent’s home
• Split custody, where there are multiple children and some children live with one parent while some live with the other.

Ensuring accurate parenting and custody information is crucial to calculating an appropriate amount of child support. Our team at Dodd & Kuendig can help parents evaluate their circumstances and ensure your information is complete and accurate.