Protecting your rights and ensuring fair support arrangements.
Support fights usually start with a disagreement. Maybe one parent believes the other is hiding income. Maybe one parent thinks they are paying more than their share for the children’s expenses. Sometimes the custody schedule changes, and support becomes another point of disagreement.
That is where these cases tend to get difficult. What looks simple on paper can turn into arguments over overtime pay, childcare costs, insurance, or who has the kids most of the week.
The Johnson Firm works with clients in Lake Charles and throughout Calcasieu Parish on child support and spousal support issues tied to divorce and custody cases. If you need to talk through your situation, call (337) 509-3371 for a consultation.
Why people in Southwest Louisiana hire The Johnson Firm for support disputes
Support disputes can become difficult quickly because the financial side of a divorce or custody case is rarely isolated from everything else. Questions about income, spending, parenting time, and household responsibilities often overlap, especially when the relationship between the parents has already broken down.
The Johnson Firm has represented families across Southwest Louisiana for decades in divorce, custody, child support, and spousal support cases. What began as a solo practice in Lake Charles has grown into a team of experienced family law attorneys serving families across Calcasieu Parish and Southwest Louisiana with a practical, client-focused approach to difficult family law cases.
Our team understands how Louisiana courts handle support disputes and the kinds of financial issues that commonly create conflict in these cases. We regularly handle support matters involving the local family court system in Lake Charles, including cases filed through the 14th Judicial District Family and Juvenile Court and the Calcasieu Clerk of Court.
Client testimonials
| “I had an excellent experience with The Johnson Law Firm. My attorney, Ashlyn Esterly, handled my divorce proceedings in a very timely and professional manner. She kept me informed every step of the way, and her communication was always clear and prompt. I truly appreciate her dedication and expertise. I would highly recommend Ashlyn and The Johnson Law Firm to anyone in need of legal assistance.” —Ty A. |
| “Working with Erin Abrams at The Johnson Firm was an absolute game-changer! She is highly knowledgeable and genuinely cares, taking the time to explain every step so I never felt in the dark. Erin’s attention to detail, strategic thinking, and dedication gave me total peace of mind and secured a positive outcome. If you are looking for a sharp, reliable, and supportive advocate to have in your corner.” — Jared Johnson |
How is child support determined in Louisiana?
Louisiana uses child support guidelines that look at both parents’ income, the number of children involved, healthcare costs, childcare expenses, and the custody arrangement. The goal is to divide financial responsibility between the parents based on the family’s situation.
There are two child support calculations used in Louisiana. One is used when a parent has sole custody or joint custody with a primary custodial parent, and the other applies in shared custody arrangements where both parents have substantial parenting time.
When calculating child support, courts often look at things like:
- Each parent’s gross income
- The amount of other child support obligations
- Childcare expenses
- Health care premiums for the children
- Children’s income, when applicable
Income can come from many different sources, including:
- Pre-tax wages and salaries
- Bonuses and commissions
- Pensions
- Retirement distributions
- Dividends and interest
- Capital gains
- Disability and Social Security benefits
- Rent payments received
- Value of a company car, free housing, and other benefits
Each parent’s share of the total monthly income is determined and used to decide a basic child support obligation. Once a child support amount is determined, the non-custodial parent is ordered to make payments on behalf of the child based on their share of the total parental income.
Even small disagreements about income, expenses, or parenting schedules can affect how support is calculated. That’s one reason working with local legal representation in Louisiana can be important in a contested support case.
What usually causes child support disputes?
A lot of support disputes come down to whether both parents are being honest about money. One parent may believe the other is earning more than they claim. That happens fairly often when somebody is self-employed, works for cash, owns a business, or has income that is harder to document.
Other disputes start after somebody changes jobs, cuts their hours, or starts claiming expenses the other parent does not believe are legitimate. Shared custody schedules can also complicate things because parenting time directly affects support calculations in Louisiana.
What happens if a parent doesn’t pay child support?
When child support is not paid, Louisiana has several ways to enforce the order. Depending on the situation, enforcement can involve wage garnishment, intercepted tax refunds, license suspension, or contempt proceedings through the court.
If you are a custodial parent and the other parent is not paying support, there are several legal avenues available. For example, past-due support may lead to intercepted tax refunds or wage garnishment.
Can child support be modified in Louisiana?
Yes. Child support can sometimes be modified when there has been a material change in circumstances. That could involve a job loss, a large increase or decrease in income, a medical issue, or a significant change in the custody schedule.
If one parent’s income increased or decreased significantly, you have lost your job, your income has decreased, or even if the other parent has remarried, you may be able to have the order modified.
People sometimes make the mistake of reducing payments on their own after losing a job or running into financial problems. That can create even bigger issues later if the order was never officially changed through the court.
Past-due support can lead to wage garnishment, withheld tax refunds, and other enforcement actions. Your driver’s license may even be revoked due to past-due child support.
What spousal support is available in Louisiana?
Louisiana recognizes several types of spousal support depending on the stage of the divorce and the financial situation of each spouse.
Interim spousal support
Interim support is meant to help a spouse financially while the divorce is still ongoing. It often comes up when one spouse handled most of the household income during the marriage. The court treats it as a transition period, and it lets the receiving spouse maintain their lifestyle while they adjust to their new financial reality, including a spouse who stayed home during the marriage, perhaps to raise children, and lost valuable work experience. This type of support ends six months after the divorce is finalized. It’s sometimes extended for good cause based on the spouse’s circumstances.
Long-term (final) spousal support
Long-term support is less common. The factors are set out in Louisiana Civil Code article 112, and it’s generally awarded where the parties had a long marriage with one spouse acting as the breadwinner throughout. In deciding the amount, the court assesses the earning capacity and financial means of each spouse, their health and age, and similar factors.
Permanent spousal support is uncommon. It’s awarded to a spouse who needs financial support indefinitely after a divorce, usually due to advanced age or a disability that prevents them from working.
When is spousal support ordered in Louisiana?
The standard depends on the type of support. For interim spousal support, the requesting spouse does not have to prove they were free from fault in the divorce; they only need to show a need for assistance and that the other spouse has the ability to pay. For final spousal support, the requesting spouse has to prove they are free from fault, in addition to showing need and the other spouse’s ability to pay. Only when the court agrees there is a need and ability to pay support will a judge evaluate the request for alimony
Spousal support can be limited if the receiving spouse is at fault for the divorce. Marital fault, including adultery in some situations, can affect whether final spousal support is awarded.
When the requesting spouse isn’t at fault, a judge considers many factors in determining an alimony amount:
- Earning capacity of each spouse
- Income and means of each spouse
- Financial obligations of each spouse, including child support
- Custodial responsibilities and how they impact earning capacity
- Length of a physical separation
- How much time a spouse may need to become financially independent
- The age and health of both spouses
- Tax consequences for each spouse
- Duration of the marriage
Louisiana law also allows courts to consider domestic abuse allegations when deciding whether support should be awarded.
Frequently asked questions about child support and spousal support in Louisiana
Can parents agree to their own child support arrangement in Louisiana?
Parents can reach agreements about child support, but the arrangement usually still needs court approval. A judge will generally want to make sure the agreement reasonably supports the child’s needs.
How long does child support last in Louisiana?
In many cases, child support continues until a child turns 18. Some exceptions apply, including situations where a child is still enrolled in secondary school full-time.
What counts as income for child support in Louisiana?
Income for child support purposes can include wages, bonuses, self-employment income, commissions, rental income, retirement benefits, and some other financial resources.
Can child support be waived in Louisiana?
Parents can’t simply agree to waive child support if the arrangement would leave a child without adequate financial support. Louisiana courts generally review child support agreements to make sure the child’s needs are being addressed before approving them.
Talk with a Lake Charles family law attorney about support issues
Support cases can become contentious quickly. What starts as a disagreement about money often turns into a conflict about a custody schedule or whether somebody is carrying more than their share financially.
The Johnson Firm represents clients across Lake Charles and Calcasieu Parish in child support and spousal support matters connected to divorce and custody disputes. To schedule a consultation with a Lake Charles child and spousal support lawyer, call (337) 509-3371 or contact us online.