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Verified for legal integrity by John McKnight, J.D. | Last updated February 18, 2026
Child support is one of the most contentious aspects of family law. Both parents have a legal obligation to support their children (Plott v. Plott, 1985), but they often don’t agree on an amount. The legislature has promulgated a formula to calculate child support according to commonly used guidelines. However, each case is different, and judges can deviate to award less or more in certain circumstances. That’s why it’s important to have one of our child support lawyers in your corner.
When you schedule a consultation with McKnight Law, we will evaluate your case and then create a strategy to ensure that child support payments are fair. Contact us today to learn more about your legal options.
The amount and scope of a appearance legal obligation to support minor. Children depends primarily on the children’s reason, reasonable needs related to health, education, and maintenance – meaning shelter, food, clothing, childcare, and transportation. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.4. And determining the amount of appearance child support obligation a court must apply the North Carolina child support guidelines, unless the amount of child support determined under the guidelines would exceed or not meet the reasonable needs of the child consider considering the relative ability of each parent to provide support, or what otherwise be unjust or inappropriate. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.4(c); 2023 Guidelines.
North Carolina’s child support guidelines are based on the “income shares” model, the prevailing model for child support guidelines in the United States. See, Federal Intent for State Child Support Guidelines: Income Shares, Cost Shares, and the Realities of Shared Parenting, 37 FAM L.Q. 165 (2003-2004). The income shares model is based on the concept that child support is a shared parental responsibility, and that the child should receive the same proportion of parental income that the child would receive if the parents lived together. 2023 Guidelines. Importantly: the guidelines do not apply to parents with exceptionally high or low income. (2023 Guidelines). Child support is based on a number of factors, but the primary factor is each parents, actual present, gross income, calculated at the time the child support obligation is determined. Kaiser v. Kaiser, 2018.
This seemingly straightforward concept is in fact complicated, and it’s important to consult with one or McKnight Law’s child support lawyers. We help you determine the appropriate amount of support for your children.
If you currently have a child support order, you might be able to modify it as long as certain conditions are met. Because a child support order determines the current and continuing rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the support of a minor child, the issue of support remains open and pending. Brooks v. Brooks, 1992. In North Carolina Court, may modify or vacate a child support order upon motion of an interested party showing changed circumstances. N.C. Gen. Stat. 50-13.10. North Carolina courts have defined “changed circumstances” as a disparity of 15% or more between the amount of support payable under the existing order and the amount of support that would result from application of the current guidelines (2015 Guidelines), a significant increase or decrease in the needs of the child (McGee v. McGee, 1995), and a significant involuntary decrease in the income of a parent (Hammill v. Cusack, 1995).
Unfortunately, some parents attempt to avoid paying child support. North Carolina courts have subject matter jurisdiction and broad authority to enforce valid orders, including orders from other states. New Hanover County ex rel. Mannthey v. Kilbourne, 2003). North Carolina law provides more than a dozen legal remedies to enforce a child support order that has been entered by North Carolina Court or that has been registered for enforcement in North Carolina – remedies that include income, withholding, and, and extreme cases, incarceration pursuant to the contempt powers of the court. Griffin v. Griffin, 1991). If you’re facing a situation involving the nonpayment of child support, it’s very important to come speak with an attorney at McKnight law. Call us.
John McKnight, our owner and founding partner, has been litigating in North Carolina District and Superior Courts since graduating from the Wake Forest university school of law in 2004. John has been inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society for his contributions to the people of the state, and he has personally trained the other lawyers here at McKnight Law, each of whom has many years of litigation experience. We are all members of both the Wake County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. Our attorneys are routinely recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America, and we have been selected by Best Law Firms in America as elite family law practitioners. All our lawyers are active in the community and contributing members to the field of law in North Carolina.
I simply won’t go to anyone else. McKnight law walks you through the legal process from A-Z.
If you have any matters to deal with in family law, I highly recommend McKnight Law as the “Go To” firm in the Triangle. John McKnight has been a pleasure to work with for myself and others I know who have used his expertise. His rates are certainly reasonable and his response time is efficient should you have additional questions. He should be your first call, every time.
— Sarah B.
