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Best Child Support Lawyers in Independence, MO

Our Recommended Top 5

We did the research for you!

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Independence Child Support Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

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Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

4700 Belleview Ave. Suite 100C, Kansas City, MO 64112
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (37)
Avvo
5.0 (15)
FindLaw
5.0 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Kevin Puckett Attorney at Law helps families in Independence with their legal concerns regarding child support. The founder of the firm, Kevin W. Puckett, is a trial attorney who focuses his practice on child and family law. He represents both men and women and is available to conduct initial consultations via phone call, video conference, or in person. His practice areas include divorce, spousal support, child custody, and paternity. He also provides assistance with modifications.

  • Child Support
  • Family
  • Divorce
  • Child Custody

Independence, MO

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

Need help contacting a Child Support Lawyer in Independence? Call our Concierge team at 848-Book-Pro (848-266-5776 from 6 am - 4 pm PT | Mon - Fri). They are standing by to help you get the service you need.

200 S. Spring St., Ste. 200, Independence, MO 64050

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.2 (5)
Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Spitaleri Law Firm serves individuals and families in and around Independence, helping them work through various family law-related issues. Sole practitioner Angela Spitaleri represents clients in matters such as contested and uncontested divorces, the establishment and modification of child custody and support, and paternity proceedings. She is a member of the Family Law Section of the Missouri Bar Association. The National Academy of Family Law Attorneys included Spitaleri in its 2019-2021 list of top 10 family law attorneys under 40 in Missouri.

  • Child Custody

4200 Little Blue Parkway, Suite 680, Independence, MO 64057

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (36)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Kelli D. Wulff, LLC, assists individuals in Independence who are in need of legal advice on issues involving their families. It handles child support cases for fathers who have established paternity. The law firm also takes on matters concerning adoption, divorce, and mediation, as well as restraining or child protection orders. A proponent of transparency, the law office tackles every issue by educating their clients about what move would help their case.

  • Child Custody

201 N. Spring Street, Independence, MO 64050

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.4 (19)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Michael S. Smith, LLC, serves clients in Independence. The company provides legal services on family law matters, including child support. Michael Smith, the firm's founder, works with parents to develop a child support plan that will serve the best interest of all parties. He also represents clients in divorce, child custody, adoption, guardianship, marital agreements, and post-order modification proceedings. His other practice areas include civil litigation, traffic law, and criminal law. Smith has been practicing law since 2008.

  • Child Custody

Compare our Top Child Support Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Kevin Puckett Attorney at Law
4700 Belleview Ave. Suite 100C, Kansas City, MO 64112free 30-minute consultations
Spitaleri Law Firm
200 S. Spring St., Ste. 200, Independence, MO 64050
The Law Offices of Kelli D. Wulff, LLC
4200 Little Blue Parkway, Suite 680, Independence, MO 64057
Law Office of Michael S. Smith, LLC
201 N. Spring Street, Independence, MO 64050

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What does a child support attorney do?

    A child support attorney is a specialized family law attorney who works primarily or solely on child support cases. These attorneys advocate for clients in a variety of situations, including seeking child support from a resistant partner, paying child support, or recalculating child support payment amounts. Often, child support law is an area of practice within a firm that also handles custody and visitation matters.

  • Can I file for child support without an attorney?

    It is possible to file for child support pro se, or on one’s own behalf. This involves obtaining the necessary forms from the local family court and filling out all required paperwork carefully and on time. The court will then set dates for hearings, which usually must be attended in person. Parents filing without a child support attorney should thoroughly research child support and custody laws to put together a compelling and accurate defense. If you already have a court order, you can seek help in enforcing it from the local office of your state child support agency.

  • What is child support used for?

    Child support is used to divide the financial responsibility for raising a child or children between two separated or divorced parents. This court-ordered payment is typically paid from the higher-income noncustodial parent to the lower-income custodial parent. It's intended to cover the costs of basic necessities for a minor and to maintain his or her standard of living. Child support may also be used to split unexpected expenses that occur during a minor's formative years. Definitions of basic necessities may vary by state.

  • When do child support payments start?

    The administrative order from the state agency or court overseeing the legal proceedings will specify the start date of child support payments and may include retroactive payments. Depending on the state and the case specifics, child support may become effective on the date of the separation, at the time of the legal filing, or on the child's birth date.

  • What is child support based on?

    How child support is calculated depends largely on the state of residence and whether custody is joint or sole. Although every case is unique, states may consider the following factors when determining the amount of child support:

    • Number of children involved
    • Allocation of parenting time
    • Total income
    • Spousal support
    • Social Security and other public benefits
    • Expenses for medical and dental insurance coverage
    • Childcare costs
  • What is included in child support?

    Child support funds are intended to pay for a child's essential needs. Child support attorneys may advocate as to what should and shouldn't be included in the order. The court may expressly define the expenses to be paid for to help both parties understand their responsibilities.

    Child support may include the following items and services:

    • Food
    • Shelter costs, including mortgage or rent, utilities, and furnishings
    • Medical expenses, such as medications, eyeglasses, and physician and dental care services
    • Childcare services
    • Educational expenses, including books, school supplies, uniforms, and field trip fees
    • Extracurricular activity costs, such as summer camps, art supplies, or sporting equipment
    • Entertainment costs
    • Transportation and travel expenses
  • How can I check if I owe child support?

    The court order outlines any obligations of child support. Additional questions about payments owed can be routed through the appropriate local child support office. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support Enforcement maintains a list of state agencies and tribal child support agencies throughout the United States and its territories.

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