James R. Balmforth: Child Support Guidelines Reflect Modern Ideals

While many Utah family law guidelines are intended to account for the best interests of the child in a divorce case, many would argue that some policies have reflected and reinforced gender bias through the years. Slowly, however, the law may be catching up with contemporary principles, since there’s evidence to suggest that child support agreements established across the country increasingly have fathers receiving financial support from their exes.

Establishing child support payments is intended to account for the financial needs of children following divorce. As such, the process involves identifying the parent that was physically responsible for the kids the majority of the time during the marriage, while also recognizing the parent that provided for the household financially. Once it’s determined which party was the primary breadwinner prior to divorce, an appropriate support plan can be created. If you need help with this, you should contact us at Ascent Law, LLC.

Now that more mothers across the country are providing for their families financially as well as physically, child custody arrangements everywhere are reflecting the shift in family dynamics. In 2013, a Pew Research study found that single mothers were responsible for heading approximately 25 percent of American households. Beyond that, around 40 percent households were financially supported by mothers. That’s why more mothers than ever before are now responsible for paying child support.

Complementing statistics suggesting that mothers are taking on more financial responsibilities are figures pointing to the fact that more fathers are the primary caregivers in a family. Full or primary custody was awarded to fathers in around 16 percent of cases in 2011, and a large percentage of those cases resulted in the dads being granted child support.

Utah Courts Attempt To Restrict Divorce Coverage

No one can dispute that reality TV has become tremendously popular in recent years. And along with the rise of reality TV has come an increased interest in high-profile news events and coverage. Some argue that courtroom programming is little more than entertainment and spectacle for viewers, while others contend that providing the public with live courtroom coverage is an important educational tool. Now, the Utah judicial system is voicing where it stands on the issue of potentially allowing cameras in family law litigation.

The Utah State Judicial Council ruled last year to not only open state courtrooms to TV cameras but also allow everything from laptops to smart phones. Now, however, that very same council is attempting to restrict the use of video cameras in family law courtrooms across the state. The Council is proposing that the change in policy is intended to protect the rights of litigants, but others argue that discouraging the use of video cameras in divorce cases is counterproductive to encouraging public access and knowledge. The measure that the judicial Council is proposing would force individuals seeking to record family law proceedings to prove to the judge why they should be allowed, whereas judges currently have to justify why court proceedings should not be recorded.

One family law attorney that is especially interested in filming court cases recommended several measures to protect the privacy of litigants, but so far only one of his requests to videotape court proceedings have been granted by the court system.

Free Consultation with Child Support Lawyer

If you have a question about child support or if you need child custody or divorce help, please call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will aggressively fight for you.