«« BACK

A Beginner’s Guide To Responding To A Child Maintenance Application

By  Gary Vulg |   | Posted in " Asset Division, Child Custody, Child Maintenance, Divorce, Family Violence, Separation Agreement "

A Beginner’s Guide To Responding To A Child Maintenance Application

Child maintenance is a complicated process if you don’t understand the law and terms of agreement adequately. Incorrect filing of documentation could result in you having to pay more than you can afford. To help you understand what goes into the first documents you have to prepare, the Law Office of Gary Vlug has formulated a Beginner’s Guide to responding to a maintenance application.

Responding to a Child Maintenance Application: It’s all in the details.

Remember that the Court sides with the child: When it comes to child maintenance, you must understand that the court is always on the side of the child. Their actions revolve around ensuring the child gets as much maintenance as is possible.

Support your statements with evidence: There’s a simple rule that you must follow during a child maintenance case - “Don’t tell the court, show the court!” Make sure your supporting documents are perfect and that your financial statement tells a believable story. The supporting documentation that you file must be precise. Also, attach every document possible. Do not believe that lacking just one or two documents is okay. If your financial statement and supporting documents are not perfect the court will impute income to you (pretend that you make a larger amount than what you are reporting), and then require you to pay a higher amount.

Understand the relevance of each document you submit: People often misunderstand the difference between a “Notice of Assessment” and a “Tax return.” Knowing that these two are not the same could save you. A “Tax return” is the document each of us sends to Revenue Canada each year. A “Notice of Assessment” is what Revenue Canada send back to us each year. In addition, remember that when you are filling out a financial statement, it is a photo of what is happening in your life right now, it does not forecast the future or tell the history of your past.

Advice From The Pros

Your financial statement is about ‘here and now’: Remember that when you are filling out a financial statement, it is a photo of what is happening in your life right now. It does not forecast the future or tell the history of your past.

Hire a lawyer: Paying a lawyer will result in less maintenance costs in the future. Besides, they will help you fill out the maintenance form accurately and assist you in getting a better understanding of the process.

With over two decades of experience, the Law Office of Gary Vlug has the best child maintenance lawyers in Vancouver and Abbotsford. We ensure that we exceed expectations and always put you first. We understand that dealing with legal issues can be stressful, which is why we aim to treat our clients with respect and strive to help improve the lives of children and their families. To learn more about how we can help you, visit our website, or get in touch with the Law Office of Gary Vlug today.