Child support laws exist to ensure that mothers and fathers support their children, even if the children are not living with both biological parents.
Child support laws do not require parents to be married to establish an award, only paternity or maternity must be proven for a child support obligation to be found. Once paternity is established, usually through a DNA test, courts follow state-mandated guidelines or court determinations in determining a child support award.
In child support actions, one parent is usually designated as the custodial parent, and accorded the role of primary caregiver. The other parent, or non-custodial parent, is regarded by child support laws as the non-custodial parent and remains obligated to pay a proportion of the costs involved in raising the child. In some joint custody cases, where the role of primary caregiver is split equally, child support laws may dictate that one parent continue to pay child support, if there is a significant disparity in the two parents’ incomes.
Child support laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and there are many approaches to determining the amount of child support award payments. Many states consider multiple several factors when determining support, such as the income of the parents, the number and ages of children living at home, basic living expenses and school costs. If the child has special needs, child support laws may take costs involved with caring for these childrens’ exceptional situation into consideration.
Child support laws may provide for the earmarking of funds for specific items, such as school fees, day care or medical expenses. These laws serve to make custodial parents more accountable for the money they receive from non-custodial parents, and ensure that the children get what they need. For example, child support laws in some jurisdictions may require parents to pay tuition fees directly to their child’s school, rather than remitting money to the custodial parent.
Child support laws may also require each parent to assume a percentage of expenses for various needs. For instance, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, custodial parents are required to pay for the first $100 of annual uninsured medical costs incurred by each child before non-custodial parents are charged. Often, child support laws may require non-custodial parents may be required to add their children to their health insurance plans. This is done to reduce the number of children receiving public assistance.
Most child support laws provide a mechanism that will imprison a non-custodial parent if they fail to pay child support. Non-custodial parents can be sentenced to jail time for up to six months for non-payment. While incarcerated, the parents are still responsible for the amount due and future payments. Child support laws often do not make provisions for if a non-custodial parent is unemployed, filing for bankruptcy, or even homeless — child support must be paid and will be enforced.
About the Author:
Elijah James has over ten years of experience in family law, and shares all his secrets on Child Support Laws
on his new website www.webfamilylaw.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Child Support Laws Safeguard Children’S Interests
Filed under Health Insurance by on Sep 26th, 2009. Comment. 
We are all familiar with the concept of health insurance and most people have it in some form or another, but have you ever stopped to wonder how it all began? The idea of paying monthly or annual fees to cover the cost of our health issues seems to be a modern one, but the truth is that there is a long history behind it.
Centuries Old
The original idea of health insurance was brought into being by Hugh Chamberlen in 1694. By the time the 1800`s rolled around, people were able to buy accident insurance, which worked to help those who were injured in an accident or who ended up disabled.
The very first health plans only offered compensation if the victim was injured due to an accident on a steamboat or train. While not terribly useful, since there were more injuries related to other circumstances at the time, it did prepare people for the more comprehensive types of plans that would be developed later on by insurance companies.
In 1847, the Massachusetts Health Insurance of Boston offered the very first group insurance policy with comprehensive benefits. By the 1890`s, insurance companies were starting to issue individual policies that covered everything from injuries and accidents to sickness and disease.
Health Insurance During the War
Group insurance plans as we know them today didn’t start until 1929 when a group of teachers decided to create their own plan. They worked a deal with the Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas where they would pay a monthly fee in exchange for medical attention and recovery care whenever needed, for any member of the group.
The idea went over so well that it wasn’t long before Blue Cross health plans were designed. These were health plans that were negotiated specifically with the local hospitals or even specific doctors. Discounts were given to the plan holders and the entire process worked very well.
By the 1940′s, it was evident that more than these very basic types of health insurance was necessary. Some people couldn’t afford the monthly fees, but were still in need of the protection afforded by having insurance. This is when employee health insurance became common. Employers would negotiate a deal for their workers and while you worked in a specific workplace, you were covered by their health plan.
During the Second World War, there was a wage freeze. No one was allowed to offer higher wages, which made it virtually impossible to lure the best worker to your company. With so many men away from the country fighting, getting the remaining workers available because a war in and of itself. Health benefits became the new lure and before the war ended in 1945, hundreds of businesses were offering comprehensive health packages in exchange for working for them.
Modern Times, Modern Plans
In the 50`s and 60`s, the government began to take an interest in health care and social security began to include disability insurance in 1954. Medicare and Medicaid were both created in the mid-60`s and by the 90`s, most Americans were enrolled in a managed care health insurance program. While minor changes have been made in the years since then, the basic premise has remained intact.
Health insurance Canada has come a long way since the days of steamboats and rail cars, but it`s even more important now with health care costs on the rise. Built on decades of practical application, modern health insurance allows people to enjoy proper health care and emergency care without having to worry about paying huge amounts of money to a hospital or doctor.
Independent travel health insurance broker compares rates from many Canadian health insurance and travel insurance companies offering the best health insurance solutions for you.
Filed under Health Insurance by on Aug 7th, 2009. Comment.
What are the reasons for annual Insurance Premiums Increase?Every year brings about numerous new cars which are sure to cost much more in comparison with the ones produced a year ago. It’s quite natural that a sum spent on the repair of such new cars would be also bigger. The research held in 2004 by the Insurance Information Institute III claims that auto insurance cost rise in that year reached only 3.5 %, which is a record low figure in comparison with the previous 4 years. This can be put to a number of factors: car producers pay more attention at the safety features of a car, drivers are becoming better, the number of car accidents reduces, due to special laws there is less fraud etc. But there is another side of the medal: in some states such as Massachusetts, New York and Florida the number of car thefts and fraud has increased which also couldn’t but have influenced the rise in the car insurance cost.
By the way in 2003 the increase in the cost was about 7.8%. In 2004 auto insurance cost was in average 871$, which is 29$ more expensive than in 2003. In order to cut down on the Insurance Premiums Increase, the majority of the insured drivers prefer to make insurance claims only in case of serious damage, the repair cost of which is sure to cover premium rise. The increasing number of car crashes also affects badly the insurance business. A lot of specialists put this to the numerous accidents happening to sport utility vehicles.One more reason for the rise in the insurance premiums is the great number of medical claims. This year there have already been 20 billion medical claims made. So this category of claims comes very expensive to the insurance companies and they try to compensate their expenses including medication and hospitalization with the help of premium cost rise.Though no one can tell for sure what the concrete reasons for the premium rise are, usually it can be put to your buying a new car or changing the place of living. Anyway we hope that this article would help to find the most suitable auto insurance plan and save some money.
About the Author:
Alexander Vishi is an author of auto insurance blog. You can find a lot of useful information by visiting URL: http://insure-car.net
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Why auto insurance premiums increase every year?
Filed under auto insurance price quote by on Jul 15th, 2009. Comment.