West Chester PA family lawyer, Joshua A. Janis is a member of Ciccarelli Law Offices, which is located in Chester County Pennsylvania and represents divorce, custody, support and family law clients in Exton, Kennett Square, Downingtown, Phoenixville, Malvern, Coatesville, West Grove, Avondale, Oxford, Landenberg, Westtown, Parkesburg, Honey Brook and Glenmore. Ciccarelli Law Offices also serves the five county Philadelphia area, including Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Montgomery counties and has locations to meet you in Springfield, Wayne, King of Prussia, Plymouth Meeting, Center City Philadelphia, and Lancaster. Disclaimer. Learn more by contacting Ciccarelli Law Offices.
212 West Gay Street West Chester PA 19380 (610) 692-8700
Joshua A. Janis, Esquire Ciccarelli Law Offices
Chester County PA Child and Spousal Support
In Pennsylvania, support may be awarded both to the spouse who earns less money or has a lower earning capacity than the other spouse; and also to the parent who maintains primary physical custody. The three different types of support that may be awarded to a spouse are called spousal support, alimony pendente lite (also called APL) and alimony.
In calculating all forms of support payable to a spouse, consideration must first be given to whether the defendant in the support action has any orders for child support and the amount owed on each and whether there is any orders for support of a previous spouse. After consideration of the other orders, spousal support and alimony pendente lite are generally based upon a fixed percentage of the differences in the net incomes or earning capacities of the spouses. If child support is also involved, the fixed percentage is 30% and if child support is not involved the fixed percentage is 40%. In determining the amount of alimony to be awarded, fixed percentages of the differences of incomes or earning capacities are not utilized. Instead, the court will consider the reasonable needs of the dependant spouse and the amount of money needed to supplement the dependant spouse's income or earning capacity to meet those reasonable needs.
Contact attorney Joshua A. Janis to get advice on your rights to support, and how the Pennsylvania Support Guidelines will affect you and/or your family. Contact me at (610) 692-8700.
Advice on Child and Spousal Support in West Chester PA – Support Guidelines – Chester County Domestic Relations – Claims for financial assistance for children, minors, students and spouses in Pennsylvania – Kennett Square Support Attorney