Child support obligations in Arizona are determined by state guidelines, using a formula that factors the income of both parents, the overall division of parenting time, unusual costs related to the children's needs and even support obligations owed to children from a prior relationship.

However, some parents may have unusual circumstances that require deviation from the child support guidelines. There may be disputes about the income of either parent or about childcare costs, parenting time credits or expenses related to a child’s special needs. In such cases, parents can use mediation to reach an agreement regarding child support. 

Mediation is a cooperative process. Parents have an opportunity to discuss private financial matters in a confidential setting instead of disclosing every detail about family finances in court. Mediation can cover special considerations such as inconsistent income due to a business or professional practice, exceptional expenses such as private school tuition and other factors that the courts may not adequately consider when establishing a child support settlement.

Mediation is an ideal opportunity to address child support concerns not factored into the formula for support. Parents can address unusual concerns, such as:

• Exceptional childcare costs

• Health insurance coverage

• Educational expenses

• College costs

• Unreimbursed medical expenses not covered by insurance, such as deductibles and out-of-network care

• Costs associated with extracurricular activities

Parents can agree to any terms that are reasonable on sharing these costs. 

Parents can theoretically reach their own arrangement based on their interpretation of marital financial circumstances. Working cooperatively to compromise during mediation can also be beneficial for the dynamic between the parents, as they must continue interacting with each other regularly until their children become adults.

Parents may want to consider using mediation to resolve their differences in cases involving a higher marital standard of living or unusual financial requirements stemming from a child’s needs. The resulting agreement can complement a general settlement that also addresses property division and spousal maintenance (also known as alimony). During such mediations, a parent will benefit from retaining an Arizona child support lawyer who can take a comprehensive approach to negotiations.

The team at Clark & Schloss Family Law, P.C. has experience handling child support issues at trial, during mediation and through direct negotiations before an uncontested divorce filing. Parents can schedule an initial consultation by calling 602-789-3497 or contacting us online.