Divorce can place enormous financial pressure on spouses in Virginia. You may have been reliant on your former spouse for financial support. When your marriage ends and that financial support suddenly disappears, it can be a stressful and worrying experience. This is especially true if you have children to clothe and feed. The last thing you want is for your children to go through needless anxiety and confusion, and you need enough money to keep them feeling secure and confident about the future. With all of these factors in mind, you may be asking yourself when you can expect your first child support payments.
The truth is that in many cases, the arrival of these first payments may depend on a number of factors completely outside of your control. Every divorce is slightly different, and there may be no easy way to tell exactly when you can start receiving the necessary funds to raise your children properly. With all that being said, courts in Virginia play an active role in ensuring that these payments actually happen. Rest assured that if your former spouse has been ordered to make child support payments, they will face serious legal consequences if they fail to follow through.
Of course, one of the best ways to ensure that your child support payments come through in a timely manner is to enlist the help of a qualified, experienced family law attorney in Virginia. Our legal professionals can use a variety of strategies to make sure there are no unnecessary delays with your payments. If your former spouse fails to make payments on time, we can also help you hold them accountable for their misconduct.
Temporary Support Orders in Virginia
One of the quickest ways to start receiving child support in Virginia is by filing for a temporary support order. This is an especially important step for many divorcing couples, as the state requires you to spend at least one year living apart before continuing with an uncontested divorce. One year is a long time to spend without any child support, and spouses may be concerned about their ability to provide for their children without the assistance of the other parent. Fortunately, courts in Virginia allow parents to immediately file a motion for temporary relief before the divorce has been finalized. In Virginia, these temporary orders are referred to as “pendente lite,” which is Latin for “pending the litigation.” After the courts become aware that you need temporary child support, they will immediately make sure that you receive these funds as soon as possible.
Once you request temporary child support, the request will be served to your former spouse. During this hearing, both spouses will be asked to submit paperwork such as income statements and tax returns. The court will then listen to testimony and issue a support decision. In addition to requesting temporary child support, you can also request temporary decisions on matters like spousal support, child custody, and attorney fees.
Enlist the Help of a Qualified Attorney Today
If you have been searching the Virginia area for a family law attorney, look no further than Nova Legal Professionals. Over the years, we have helped numerous spouses move on from their marriages and continue to raise their children with the necessary funds. We recognize the immense financial pressures you may be under as you separate from your former spouse, and we can help you make sure that your first child support payments arrive on time and with no issues. Book your consultation today.
