Many divorcing spouses in Georgia and elsewhere face challenging decisions based on their children and providing two different homes for their children. One of the steps in the divorce process for these parents is how much child support the non-custodial parent should pay each month. Recently, an ex-basketball player has agreed to pay child support.
Dennis Rodman, a former NBA player, was found to be in contempt of a court order regarding his child support payment. It is disputed how much Rodman owes in back child support pay. According to reports, Rodman unintentionally paid child support payments that were under the court-ordered amount for several months, which allegedly was a result of Rodman failing to attend a hearing where he was ordered to increase the amount of his obligation.
Rodman's attorney disagreed, claiming Rodman has been paying the correct amount of child support since he has learned of the court ordered payment increase. According to the attorney of Rodman's ex-wife, a Superior Court Commissioner cautioned Rodman that if he did not pay his child support obligation, he may face time in jail.
It would not be the first time. In the past, Rodman was ordered to perform over 100 hundred hours of community service after being convicted of contempt of court for failing to pay child support.
Outside of court the couples met and agreed to a child support payment of $500,000.
As shown by Rodman and his ex-wife, parties themselves may make an agreement for child support payments; many times this agreement is made with each party's attorney in attendance.
Child support agreements may also be made through an alternative dispute resolution process or through a court order. Through an informal negotiation process between the parties, the parties may work together to decide what is the appropriate child support payment. Ideally, a successful informal negotiation results in a written settlement agreement. Sometimes, this written agreement is a part of the bigger divorce agreement of the parties.
In Georgia, child support guidelines may assist divorcing parents in determining child support. While it may be a difficult process, it is important to remember that the parties' child is the center of the child support discussion.