It s rare for a judge to order a deviation from the guidelines, sometimes even when both parents ask for it. Even if both parents agree to a deviation, in most courts it s easy to get the child support restored to the guideline figure later. Collecting child support has gotten easier recently. As the result of federal legislation now adopted in all 50 states, deadbeat parents can have their bank accounts seized, their income garnished, and their drivers licenses, professional licenses, and hunting and fishing licenses suspended. They can even be thrown in jail.
Spousal support is the hardest issue to predict in most divorces.
Alimony is usually reserved for cases in which one spouse has been economically dependent on the other for most of a lengthy marriage. If your spouse has hired a combative, aggressive, take no prisoners divorce lawyer, then you may have no choice but to respond in kind. But the vast majority of divorcing couples have no need for this kind of representation. They need the wise perspective of a calm, seasoned advisor who can help them evaluate the suggestions their spouse is making and help them end the conflict as soon as possible. Your evaluation of a prospective lawyer begins with the first phone call.