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+1 646-241-8602
Manhattan, New York City, Westchester, Long Island and beyond
+1 646-241-8602
Worried about child support in New York City? You can talk to a NYC child support lawyer at Collins Law Group, PLLC today – free. Call 646-241-8602 or request a free consultation. Whether you need a new support order, want to change one you already have or someone owes you money, we explain your numbers in plain English and fight to protect your kids and your wallet.
New York uses one formula across all five boroughs, so a parent in Brooklyn and a parent in the Bronx start from the same rules. Here are the steps a court follows:
If the parents earn more than $193,000 combined, the judge decides how much of the extra income to count. This is where a skilled lawyer matters most, because the judge has room to weigh your family’s real lifestyle and needs.
Number of children | Percentage of combined income |
1 child | 17% |
2 children | 25% |
3 children | 29% |
4 children | 31% |
5 or more | 35% Or More |
Let’s make it real with a simple example.
Example: Maria and James have two kids and live in Queens. Maria earns $90,000 a year. James earns $60,000. Their combined income is $150,000 – under the cap.
Your numbers will differ. Income type, custody split, and add-ons all move the figure. A NYC child support lawyer runs your exact case so you know the real range before you ever step into court.
A lawyer is not just for the courtroom. Here is how a NYC child support lawyer helps at each stage:
You get someone who knows the local judges, the local rules, and how support really plays out from Manhattan to Staten Island.
Basic support covers food, clothing, and shelter. Courts add other costs on top, split between parents by their share of income. Common add-ons:
These add-ons can be as large as the basic payment, so they are worth fighting over. We make sure your order is fair and that both parents pay their real share.
Life changes. Your order can change too. In New York, you can ask the court to raise or lower support if any one of these is true:
A raise is called an upward modification; a cut is a downward modification. Filing a modification in Family Court costs $0. The catch: support keeps running at the old amount until the judge signs a new order, so filing fast protects you. Do not wait and let unpaid support pile up.
Example: Devon lost his job in March. He waited until July to file. The court can lower his support going forward — but he still owes the higher amount for those four months. Filing in March would have saved him thousands.
If a parent stops paying, New York gives the other parent real power to collect. Tools the court and the state can use include:
Unpaid back support is called arrears, and here is the hard truth: a judge cannot erase arrears. Only the parent who is owed the money can agree to reduce it. So if you are behind, the smart move is to file for a modification now — before more debt builds — rather than hope a court wipes it away later.
If you are owed money, we move quickly to collect it. If you have fallen behind, we work to protect your license and your record while we fix the order. Either way, a NYC child support lawyer gives you a real plan.
Most custody cases in New York City are heard in Family Court, and there is one in each borough:
If custody is part of a divorce, it may be decided in Supreme Court instead. The basic path is: file a petition, attend court dates, share information, try to settle, and if needed, go to a hearing where the judge decides. We stand with you at every step, so you always know what comes next.
In New York, child support usually lasts until the child turns 21 – not 18, which surprises many parents who moved here from other states. Support can end sooner if the child becomes self-supporting, marries, or joins the military (this is called emancipation). In some cases involving a child with a disability, support can extend further. We can tell you exactly when your duty starts and stops.
You file in the Family Court of the borough where the child lives — Manhattan (New York County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island (Richmond County). The basic path looks like this:
Paperwork errors and missing financial proof are the top reasons cases stall. We prepare your file so the court can move it the first time.
Collins Law Group, PLLC helps parents across New York City and its neighborhoods — from the Upper West Side and Harlem in Manhattan, to Park Slope and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, Astoria and Forest Hills in Queens, Riverdale in the Bronx, and across Staten Island. We know each county’s Family Court and the judges who sit there. Wherever you are in NYC, help is close.
You do not have to figure this out alone. Get clear numbers, a real plan, and a lawyer who fights for your children and your finances.
📞 Call 646-241-8602 for a free consultation or send us a message and we will reply fast.
Collins Law Group, PLLC — serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.