Child Support

St. Louis Child Support Lawyer

Licensed in Missouri Since 1962. Direct Representation for Every Client.

Child support questions don’t wait, and the numbers involved follow your family for years. At Cavanagh & Associates, we handle child support matters as part of our family law practice, representing parents throughout St. Louis and surrounding areas including St. Charles and Chesterfield. Clients work directly with Attorney Jack Cavanagh throughout their case, not a paralegal or junior associate.

Jack Cavanagh has been licensed to practice law in Missouri since 1962, bringing over six decades of experience to family law clients. His background as a former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for St. Louis County gives him courtroom and procedural knowledge of Missouri’s legal system that directly informs how he handles contested child support matters. Child support arises in divorce (dissolution of marriage), custody proceedings, and paternity actions, each with its own procedural context and stakes.

If you’re dealing with a child support dispute, reach out to our St. Louis child support attorney by calling (314) 309-2799 or contacting us online today.

What Is Child Support?

Child support is a periodic payment, typically expressed as a monthly amount, paid by one parent to the other to help cover the costs of raising a shared child. Historically, it was paid by the “parent paying support” to the “parent receiving support”. But those terms are no longer used in Missouri.

As custody arrangements have evolved, the line between “custodial” and “non-custodial” has blurred considerably. With 50/50 physical custody schedules now common, neither parent may clearly fit either label.

“Parent Paying Support” & “Parent Receiving Support”

Missouri courts now use the terms “parent paying support” and “parent receiving support.” Support is calculated based on both parents’ gross income, including wages, overtime, and bonuses if historically consistent, interest, business income, rental income, dividends, and other income types.

For divorcing parents, if spousal support (“maintenance”) is awarded, the amount paid is subtracted from the paying parent’s income and added to the receiving parent’s income when completing the required Presumed Child Support Calculation Worksheet (Form 14).

Overnight stays also affect the calculation:

Missouri’s child support guidelines factor in the number of overnight stays per year each child spends with each parent.
Overnight stays with the parent paying support generate a “child custody credit,” reducing what that parent would otherwise owe.
The more overnights with the paying parent, the greater the credit.

Does Child Support Extend Through College?

Missouri child support doesn’t automatically end when a child turns 18. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.340, support continues if the child is still enrolled in and attending secondary school at 18, running until graduation or age 21, whichever comes first.

For postsecondary education, support may continue past 18 if the child enrolls in a qualifying institution of vocational or higher education no later than October 1 following high school graduation, completes at least 12 credit hours per semester (excluding summer), and maintains grades sufficient to re-enroll. Under those conditions, support can continue until the child completes the program or reaches age 21, whichever comes first. Because these terms can be addressed in the parenting plan, college funding is worth raising during divorce or paternity proceedings rather than after the fact. Planning gets more complicated when you factor in variables like:

Private vs. public institution
In-state vs. out-of-state enrollment
Financial aid availability

Once a child is enrolled in a postsecondary institution, the parent paying support or the child may petition the court to redirect payments directly to the child rather than to the parent receiving support.

How Missouri’s Form 14 Determines Your Child Support Amount

Missouri requires child support to be calculated using the Presumed Child Support Calculation Worksheet, commonly called Form 14. The St. Louis County Family Court, part of the 21st Judicial Circuit, handles these matters for parents in St. Louis County, with cases heard in Clayton. Understanding how Form 14 applies to your specific income facts and custody schedule is one of the most practical things a child support attorney can do for you before any order is entered.

Form 14 weighs the gross income of both parents, the number of children, health and dental and vision insurance costs, work-related child care costs, ongoing medical and special needs expenses, and the number of overnight stays with each parent. Small errors in income reporting or parenting-time calculations can significantly shift the result. We help clients understand how their specific numbers apply to the Form 14 calculation and what the resulting order may look like before they step into court.

Contrary to instinct, the paying parent’s ability to pay is rarely a direct factor in the standard calculation:

In a 50/50 custody arrangement where one parent earns substantially more, a child support order is still likely.
In a 50/50 arrangement where the parents’ incomes are nearly equal, no order may be entered.
Courts may deviate from the Form 14 presumed amount, but doing so requires specific findings on the record.

How Child Support Is Collected in Missouri

Once a child support order is in place, payment is mandatory. If the paying parent falls behind or pays late, the receiving parent may request that support be deducted directly from the paying parent’s paycheck through a Federal Income Withholding for Support filing. Missouri courts can also pursue enforcement through driver’s license suspension, tax refund interception, property liens, and contempt proceedings.

Modifying a Child Support Order in Missouri

Either parent may petition to modify an existing support order if there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that makes the current amount unreasonable. Changes that may qualify include:

Change in employment
Remarriage of a former spouse
Custody changes
Shifts in the financial needs of the children or either parent
Relocation

Unemployment alone may not be enough to justify modification if the court finds the unemployed parent has the capacity to earn based on their skills, education, and available opportunities. The court retains discretion over whether the change in circumstances is sufficient.

Related Page:

Missouri Child Support Enforcement

Looking to modify an existing support order or need help establishing a new one? Our St. Louis child support lawyer is ready to hear from you. Call us at (314) 309-2799 or contact us online to get started.

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"He has worked with me even though we are in different states to ensure I am kept abreast of what is going on."
He has worked with me even though we are in different states to ensure I am kept abreast of what is going on.

- Former Client
"Truth will always prevail."
First of all, it was hard to find a lawyer that works with grandparents rights. Jack did a great job and we get to see our grand-daughter for the first time in a year. We are very thankful to him.

- Mr. Callaway
"I would give her 10 Stars if I could!"
They are very very professional and very quick to respond so you're not left in the dark about anything to do with your case! I was very happy with the results of my case and my experience with them. I highly recommend if you're looking for a divorce lawyer or any kind of family law, Jack cavanaugh and his associates are great! I have to give a special shout out to Eka because she really made my life a heck of a lot easier and was always so quick to get back to me and let me know what is going on! I would give her 10 Stars if I could!

- Courtney T.
"I highly recommend him"
Jack took over my divorce case and made a seemingly endless divorce process (nearly 4 years with mediation, continuances and a former atty.) come to a quick and agreeable settlement. Jack is an effective and seasoned attorney that made easy work of the negotiations. He is respectful and concerned for his clients. His associates were friendly and helpful, ensuring that all paperwork was completed in a timely and accurate fashion. I highly recommend him if you are going through a difficult divorce.

- Carol
"We won a battle like David against Goliath"
Jack is great lawyer with lots of experience. I’m glad we I hired him to represent me. We won a battle like David against Goliath.

- Rolles G.
"I've worked with Jack on two separate occasions and both times I felt that he not only had my best interest in mind but was going to bat on my behalf. "
I would highly recommend setting up a consultation with Jack regarding your legal matters as he certainly goes above and beyond for his clients.

- Matt
"The best there is in the Biz"
Jack has been a lawyer for a long time. He values his clients and sees them as people with individual circumstances, and not just dollar bills like other attorneys. Anyone that knows anything about the law knows it’s about making and keeping good rapport with all parties involved. And for a defense attorney, being familiar with the judge to the prosecutor and being on a friendly basis with them is exceptionally important. And Jack knows everyone! He should as he’s been doing this for probably over 40 years. He’s not only a great attorney but I consider him a friend. Don’t make the mistake of choosing an unknown rookie attorney who may be a couple bucks cheaper. Choose Jack!

- Paige
"I would recommend Mr. Cavanagh as well as use him again in the future."
Mr. Cavanagh was very patient in dealing with all of the difficulties of my case. He was pleasant to work with to get the child support and custody worked out in a way that was fair. He showed real concern for the welfare of my son. He was professional in guiding me with regards to counseling and getting my sons voice heard throughout the case as well. Lastly he was thorough in that he went through the original divorce decree and made sure I received what I should have gotten during the divorce. I would recommend Mr. Cavanagh as well as use him again in the future.

- Former Client

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