Does 50/50 parenting time mean no child support?

Not necessarily. If there's a large income gap between parents, support may still be ordered even with equal time.

We already have an informal agreement that's been working fine. Do we really need to formalize it?

If it's working, that's great. But Maricopa County courts see plenty of cases where a casual deal fell apart the moment one parent's life changed. An informal arrangement also won't qualify you for enforcement tools like wage garnishment or contempt filings. Formalizing it doesn't mean you distrust each other; it means you're both protected if things ever change.

Should I get a lawyer for a child support hearing?

While you aren't legally required to have representation, the Maricopa County Superior Court moves fast. A single mistake in reporting income or parenting time can lead to an order that is financially devastating and nearly impossible to change later. Having a child support attorney in Phoenix ensures your documentation is bulletproof before you stand in front of a judge.

Can you fight a child support case?

Yes. Whether you believe the proposed amount is inaccurate based on real income or the parenting time credit is being calculated incorrectly, child support can be fought. However, "fighting" it doesn't mean arguing; it means providing the court with superior evidence, such as forensic accounting for self-employed parents or documented proof of actual parenting days.

Do you need a lawyer to sue for child support?

You can file for support on your own, but "suing" for support—especially when the other parent is hiding assets or refusing to pay—requires aggressive legal tools. We handle the heavy lifting of filing the initial petitions and ensuring the final order is enforceable so you don't have to navigate the complex court filing system alone.

Kedia Law attorney in Phoenix preparing a child custody or divorce case with care and strategy

Child Support Attorneys in Phoenix, Arizona

Your child's financial future shouldn't be unstable

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When a relationship ends, the financial support your child depends on doesn't. Child support in Arizona is your kid's stability, their school supplies, their doctor visits, their religion, and even their quality of life. At Kedia Law, our child support attorneys in Phoenix work to make sure that the number of monthly payments is right, documented correctly, and actually enforced.

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What's at Stake If You Handle This Without an Attorney

Child support isn't something you can revisit whenever it feels convenient. Once a judge at the Maricopa County Superior Court signs off on an order, you're locked in it until you can prove a substantial change in circumstances, and even then, modifications aren't guaranteed.

Here's what we see happen when parents go in without child support attorneys in Phoenix:

The number is set too low—or too high. Arizona's calculation under the Child Support Guidelines (A.R.S. § 25-320) accounts for income, parenting time, healthcare, and childcare. Miss or misreport any of those inputs, and the monthly obligation could be off by hundreds of dollars. Multiply that by years, and you're talking about a serious financial loss—either for your child or for you.
A verbal agreement won't protect you. A lot of co-parents think they've worked something out amongst themselves. They agree on a number, shake hands, and then go about their day. Then one parent loses their job, remarries, or simply decides to stop paying. Without a court order, you have nothing enforceable. Nothing.
Hidden income goes unchallenged. If the other parent is self-employed, runs a business, or gets paid under the table, their real income can look very different on paper. An experienced attorney knows what financial records to request and how to identify inconsistencies, which can make a real difference in what the court ultimately sees
Parenting time directly affects the calculation. In Arizona, the number of days each parent has the child is not just a custody issue, but feeds directly into how support is calculated. A loosely defined schedule, or one that doesn't reflect reality, can change the numbers significantly. Courts don't correct mistakes you didn't point out.
Modifications are harder than people expect. Under A.R.S. § 25-327, modifying a support order requires proving a "substantial and continuing" change in circumstances, meaning usually a 15% or more shift in the obligation. You can't just ask for a do-over because you feel the original order wasn't fair. Getting it right the first time is ideal.

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What Arizona Law Says About Child Support

Arizona uses an Income Shares Model, which means both parents' incomes go into the formula, not just the higher earner's. The calculation also folds in health insurance premiums, childcare costs, and the actual parenting schedule. In practice, there's significant room for the numbers to move based on how information is presented and documented.

Cases are filed through the Maricopa County Superior Court at 201 W. Jefferson St., one of the busiest family court systems in the country. Judges move quickly. If you walk in without a clear, organized picture of your finances and your parenting plan, the outcome is largely out of your hands. This is why having child support attorneys in Phoenix are so important.

Child Support Issues We Handle

Initial support orders — established correctly from the start, with proper income documentation and a realistic parenting schedule built in
Modifications — when income changes, a job is lost, or a business grows, and the current order no longer reflects reality
Enforcement — when the other parent simply isn't paying, we use the tools to ensure compensation, such as wage garnishment, liens, license suspension, and contempt proceedings through Maricopa County
Disputed income cases — self-employment, freelance work, cash income, and business ownership all require a closer look that most people aren't equipped to do alone

Rooted in Phoenix, Ready in Court

We're a Phoenix-based firm. We appear regularly in Maricopa County Superior Court, and we understand how local judicial officers approach financial disclosures, parenting plans, and contested income situations. That familiarity matters when timing and presentation can affect how your case lands.

Our founder, Pooja Kedia, earned her Juris Doctor from Arizona State University and served as a Public Defender in Maricopa County before focusing on family law. She knows these courtrooms. She knows what judges here respond to, and she builds cases accordingly.

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Answering Frequently Asked Questions

Child Support

This comes up constantly in Phoenix, especially with the number of people working in construction, hospitality, and other gigs across the Valley. Arizona courts can impute income—meaning if a parent appears to be underemployed or their reported income doesn't match their lifestyle, a judge can assign an income figure based on earning capacity. We know how to build that argument with the evidence available.

Testimonials

Very kind, and helpful during my inquisition surrounding my case. She even made recommendations I had yet to think of to save me money ! 5/5 stars

S. A.

I cannot say enough great things about the team at Kedia Law Firm. The time, attention, and expertise they put into my case were invaluable in helping me accomplish my legal goals. I have a high-conflict child custody and parenting time matter, and they handled every aspect with professionalism, dignity, and respect. I highly recommend their services. To Pooja, Andrea, and the entire team—thank you from the bottom of my heart.

D. H.

Although my case has been going on for months and is still far from resolved, I’ve never once felt alone in the process. Pooja, Andrea, and the entire team at Kedia Law have been exceptionally supportive, responsive, and compassionate every step of the way. Their professionalism and genuine care have made a challenging situation much easier to navigate. If you need a legal team you can rely on, I wholeheartedly recommend Kedia Law. I’m incredibly grateful for all they’ve done for me.

E. K.

Strong, compassionate, knowledgeable, and transparent. Kedia Law helped me so much with the divorce and the only law office to actually be transparent about cost involved with representation. Would recommend them any day!

A. T.

After navigating so many hearings on our own and digging ourselves into a bigger hole, we realized we needed professionals for our family law case and we couldn’t have found a better team than Pooja and Andrea! Their diligence and attention to EVERY 👏 SINGLE 👏 DETAIL 👏 was incredible. Not to mention the patience they had with my overly stressed, overbearing self! (Thank you Paralegal Sarah for always reassuring us that we were in good hands, you’re amazing!) We wholeheartedly love this firm and truly felt they wanted the absolute best for our family. Worth every penny!

A. N.