Professional Legal Representation in Child Support Claims | Attorney Roziel Amir

Who Needs a Child Support Attorney?

A child support claim is one of the most complex procedures in Israeli family law. It is not merely a question of a monthly sum — it is about protecting the child's rights, understanding the legal rights of the parent seeking support, and navigating the laws and guidelines established by the court. Every case is unique, and every family faces entirely different circumstances.

If you are a parent who is separated or in the process of divorce, and you need to ensure that your children receive the financial support they require, or if you are facing a child support claim filed against you, you need an experienced attorney who will understand your situation and represent you wisely and precisely.

The Roziel Amir law office specializes in child support claims for many years. We work with parents from all backgrounds, at every stage of the procedure — from the initial stage of legal consultation, through out-of-court negotiations, and up to full court proceedings if necessary.

What is Child Support Under Israeli Law?

Child support is a financial payment that one parent is required to transfer to the other parent to support the child's expenses. Under Israeli law, every parent is obligated to support their children according to their ability. This includes expenses for food, clothing, housing, education, health, and social activities. Child support does not necessarily end when the child turns 18 — under certain conditions, it may continue until age 21 if the child continues his or her education.

The Family Court determines the amount of child support based on a guidelines system known as the "child support table." This table takes into account the income of both parents, the number of children, the cost of living, the division of child custody, and other factors. However, the court can deviate from the table if special circumstances warrant it.

The Risks of Self-Representation in a Child Support Claim

Many people believe they can handle a child support claim on their own, without an attorney. This is a grave mistake. A legal procedure in family law requires a deep understanding of the law, the court's guidelines, and how to present your case in a compelling manner. If you represent yourself:

• You may miss legal deadlines — the court will not show mercy on you. If you forget to file a document on time, your claim may be dismissed.
• You may not present your case optimally — there are nuances in the law that only an experienced attorney knows how to use.
• You may receive less child support than you are entitled to — or be ordered to pay more than you can actually afford.
• You may be left with a substantial legal debt if the court orders you to pay the legal fees of the opposing party.

How the Roziel Amir Office Assists in Child Support Claims

When you come to us for the first time, we dedicate time to hearing your full story. We ask in-depth questions about your income, your children's expenses, custody arrangements, and any other factor that may affect the calculation of child support. We then analyze your information according to the applicable table, and we compare your case to similar court rulings.

We also help you prepare your file — collecting documents, proof of income, expense documentation, and various certificates. Every document is carefully selected to strengthen your case. If you are seeking support, we help you demonstrate the need for it. If you are defending against a claim, we help you demonstrate your capacity.

During the procedure, we first attempt to reach a legal agreement with the opposing party. Such an agreement saves time, money, and stress. If an agreement can be reached, we ensure that it complies with court guidelines and is fair to both parties. If an agreement cannot be reached, we represent you in court at every stage of the procedure.

Child Support Claims Process — Step by Step

Understanding the legal process helps you be prepared and avoid surprises. Below is a general overview of the steps in a child support claim in Israel.

Step 1: Filing the Claim

If you are requesting child support, you must file a claim with the Family Court in your jurisdiction. The claim must contain clear details about the children, your income and the other party's income (if known), and the amount of child support you are requesting. We assist you in preparing the claim and filing it in a legally proper manner.

Step 2: Notification to the Other Party

After filing the claim, the court notifies the other party (usually the other parent) of the claim. The other party must receive formal notice and has a period of time to respond (usually 30 days).

Step 3: Filing a Response and Evidence

The other party will file a response to the claim. In this response, he or she may agree to part of the demands, object to others, or propose a different amount of child support. Both parties must submit evidence to support their claims — income statements, bank statements, invoices, etc. We assist you in preparing strong evidence and defending your position.

Step 4: Settlement Attempt

Before the court hearing, the court often encourages the parties to try to reach an agreement. This can be through direct negotiation or through legal mediation. If both parties agree on a child support amount, they can submit a signed agreement to the court, and the proceedings will end. We represent you in this settlement attempt and ensure that any agreement reached is fair.

Step 5: Court Hearing

If an agreement cannot be reached, the court will hold a hearing. At the hearing, both parties present their arguments, submit evidence, and examine witnesses. We represent you at the hearing, ask probing questions, and argue on your behalf before the judge.

Step 6: Court Judgment

After the hearing, the judge will issue a decision. This decision will include the monthly child support amount, the start date, and any additional terms or directives (for example, how child support is to be paid, or how to handle changes in income in the future). We help you understand the judgment and its implications.

Step 7: Enforcement or Appeal

If you believe the judgment is unjust, you can file an appeal to the Supreme Court. If the other party fails to pay child support as ordered, you can file an enforcement request with the court. We can assist you in both cases.

Factors the Court Will Consider

The court does not rely solely on a table to determine child support. The judge also considers:

• Income of both parents — not just salary, but also other income such as dividends, self-employment income, etc.
• Work capacity — if one parent is not working, the court may assume he or she can work and may impute potential income.
• Child-related expenses — any expense related to the children, including education, healthcare, and insurance.
• Custody arrangements — if a child spends more time with one parent, that parent's expenses may be higher.
• Special needs — if a child has special needs (for example, special education, medical treatments), this may affect the child support amount.
• Standard of living before separation — the court attempts to ensure the child continues to live at a standard similar to that which existed before the separation.

Child Support Guidelines Table — How It Works

The child support guidelines table is a tool that courts use to calculate child support. The table takes into account the combined income of both parents and determines what percentage of that income should be dedicated to child support. The table is updated annually, and all values are adjusted according to inflation.

To use the table, you need to know:

1. The monthly income of the parent requesting child support (typically, the child resides with this parent).
2. The monthly income of the other parent.
3. The number of children they have together.
4. How much time the children spend with each parent (typically, this is related to a custody agreement).

The table determines a percentage of combined income that should be dedicated to child support. For example, if the combined income is 20,000 shekels and there are two children, the table might determine that approximately 25% of the income should be child support. This means the total amount of child support would be approximately 5,000 shekels. This amount is divided between the two parents according to their income — the parent with the higher income will pay a larger share.

However, the court can deviate from the table if there are good reasons. For example:

• If one parent's income is very high (above a certain threshold), the court may decide that child support should be higher than the table suggests.
• If a child has special needs, child support may be higher.
• If one parent holds substantial assets (not just income), this could affect the calculation.
• If the custody arrangement is significantly different from the standard arrangement, the table may be unfair.

This is why it is very important to have a lawyer who understands the table and knows how to use it to argue on your behalf. We analyze your case, compare it to similar court decisions, and present a strong argument to the court.

Practical Example: Calculating Child Support

Let's imagine the following case: Dan and she is the mother of two children, ages 8 and 10. They divorced a year ago. The children live with the mother, but they spend every weekend with the father. Dan earns 15,000 shekels per month, and the mother earns 8,000 shekels per month. The combined income is 23,000 shekels.

According to the child support guidelines table, for two children, approximately 28% of the combined income should be child support. This means the total amount of child support would be approximately 6,440 shekels per month. Now, the court divides this amount between the two parents according to their income. Dan earns 65% of the combined income, so he must pay approximately 65% of child support, which is approximately 4,186 shekels per month. The mother earns 35% of the combined income, so she must contribute approximately 35% of child support, which is approximately 2,254 shekels per month (but this is typically divided between her daily expenses with the children).

However, if Dan argues that he spends a lot of time with the children and has substantial expenses for them, a good lawyer can use this argument to reduce his child support. If the mother argues that there are special expenses (for example, the child needs expensive dental treatment), a good lawyer can use this argument to increase child support.