Blog

08/02/2022 By Jason Bean Leave a Comment

The Importance of Child Support: Why It’s Critical for Your Children’s Future

Undergoing a divorce can be complicated for the spouses involved and the entire family. One crucial issue that must decide during divorce proceedings is child support. It is a court-ordered payment from one parent to the other for the financial support of their kids. To prepare yourself for these legal matters, you may want to have an experienced divorce attorney on your side. You may visit sites like https://www.thetxattorneys.com/blog/legal-separation-vs-divorce-in-texas to learn more about divorce and family law.

As per the law, both parents are responsible for supporting their children, even if they are not married. The one who does not have primary custody is typically the one who pays for child support. The court may sometimes order both parents to pay for the support.

If you want to understand why child support is important, read on.

Why is Child Support Important?

The US average cost of raising adults from birth to age 18 is $233,610. This figure does not add to the cost of college tuition. It is becoming increasingly difficult for single parents to provide for their children with the current cost of living increase.

Child support ensures that both parents contribute financially to their youngsters' upbringing. The money covers basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. In some cases, you may also use it to cover the cost of extracurricular activities and school supplies.

In addition to providing for the generic needs, the law also helps to level the playing field between single and two-parent households. Studies have shown that teenagers who grow up in two-parent families have better outcomes than those who grow up in single ones.

From the above, it can be easy to understand why child support is important.

What is Included in the Child Support Law?

The amount of support ordered by the court will vary depending on several factors, such as the parents' income, the number of infants, and the custody arrangement.

In most cases, parents will have to make the payments until the child reaches the age of 18. In some cases, however, it may continue until they complete high school or get 21.

If you are going through a divorce or ending up splitting, it is vital to include the cause in the divorce settlement. So, it can be an essential source of income for single breadwinners and can make a big difference in their children's lives.

If you have any queries or doubts about child support, you may consult a child custody lawyer to assist you. A professional child support attorney will help you understand the law and ensure you get the upkeep you and your infant need.

How Does Child Support Work?

The non-custodial parent usually pays child support payments to the custodial parent. The payments are made regularly, usually monthly. They are made through wage withholding, meaning the money is taken directly from the non-custodial individual's paycheck.

What are the Major Consequences of not Paying Child Support?

There can be severe consequences if you are a non-custodial parent who has been ordered to pay and fails to make the payments. The state's child support enforcement agency can take several actions to collect the unpaid amount, such as wage garnishment, tax refund interception, and license suspension.

Conclusion:

Learning about the importance of child support and how it can help your kid is critical. It can be the difference between a bright future and a difficult one. Make sure you understand your state's laws and requirements and seek legal help and financial planning resources if necessary to ensure that your kid receives the financial support they need and deserve.

08/02/2022 By Jason Bean Leave a Comment

Helpful Questions Related to the Pilot Light on a Water Heater

Even though electric water heaters are pretty popular in homes worldwide, gas water heaters have plenty of advantages. They are more efficient, have lower operational costs, and are highly suited for colder climates. Gas heaters operate through convection: a burner below the tank heats the cold water entering the tank. But, you must first switch on the pilot light in order for the burner to work. Knowing how to light a pilot light on a water heater is crucial to getting full utility from it. If the pilot light is not lit, there will be no hot water supply, regardless of whether you have a tanked or tankless water heater. In addition, if you need residential propane tank refill, make sure to contact professional propane tank refill services.

Here are some basic questions related to the issue you might find helpful.

Where is the pilot light assembly located?

The screen of it is usually located behind the heating unit, at the lower part of the water tank. In some cases, it is covered by a panel; in others, you may be able to access it directly.

The burner and the knob are located directly above the screen, connected by a small metallic tube. Before a plumber does any maintenance work on the heater, this is the knob they use to shut off the gas supply.

Why does the light go out?

Sometimes, it goes out by itself for various reasons like broken valves or thermocouple, low gas pressure, or faulty venting.

For instance, a malfunctioning thermocouple will cause the flame to extinguish by itself. The thermocouple is close to the pilot. When you switch on the burner, it ensures that the gas line is open. A defective one will cause the flame to go out without any reason, preventing the heater from heating water.

The flame might also go out because of a defective gas valve, or in some cases, a cracked heat exchanger.

In most cases, you can restart the flame by yourself. However, if you cannot restart it despite several attempts, it's a good idea to call a professional plumbing specialist to conduct water heater repair - Craftsman Plumbing. Working with gas is dangerous and can often be uncertain so calling in a professional for tanked water heater repairs would be your best bet.

How to switch it on?

Start by removing the outer and inner panels at the water heater's base to access the pilot assembly. Find the gas knob and turn it towards the pilot position. Press down on the knob and hold the knob, which releases the flame to turn on the gas.

Keep the knob in the on position for a minute to ensure the flame doesn't go out. Once you have switched on the main burner, you will hear a whistling sound indicating that it's working correctly.

When should you call a plumber?

Although you can switch on the flame, you must call professional plumbers if you suspect a gas leakage from your tankless hot water heater.

The best possible way to detect leakage is to stand beside the heater and take short, repeated sniffs. Do not take deep breaths. A gas leak smells similar to rotting eggs and will likely be easy to detect. Try listening for a hissing sound if you can't smell it but still suspect a leak.

You should also call a professional plumbing service like this Hudson plumber if the pilot light doesn't burn or keeps going out despite the knob being turned to the "on" position. This is likely the fault of the thermocouple, which will require replacing.

If you want to use yours correctly, and save money on expensive repairs, it is essential to know how to light a pilot light on a water heater. However, in some situations, like the ones described above, it may be better to call a plumber.

07/26/2022 By Jason Bean Leave a Comment

Top Factors to Consider When Hiring a Realtor

Photo by Maria Ziegler on Unsplash

Scottsdale had an average appreciation rate of 56.21 percent, or 11.80 %, in the latest quarter, as per the recent data. The home prices increased 20.7 percent over the previous year in May 2022, with a median sale price of $845K. If you're planning to sell your house this year and you prefer cash offers, you may look for companies that advertise "we buy houses for cash".

But how do you go about hiring a reliable real estate agent? So many people vying for attention can be challenging and even exhausting. One can consider choosing a reputed real estate team like The Kay-Grant Group.

To help you focus your search, there are a few characteristics to look out for. Here are some qualities you should look for in a real estate broker to help you select new homes for sale.

Positive Comments and Recommendations

Checking out their testimonials and requesting recommendations is one of the most excellent methods to begin your search for a real estate agent. You can learn about a realtor’s communication style and success rate through online evaluations and recommendations.

Remember that working with an agent may not be possible based on one lousy rating. But if the majority of the evaluations are negative, keep looking.

Knowledge of Your Neighborhood

If you're a seller, you would like to hire a real estate agent professional who has expertise with homes for sale in the neighborhood. If you're a buyer, you would like to work with a professional with expertise in the neighborhood you're considering relocating to, e.g., houses for sale in Wichita KS. You may visit sites like www.lowcountryrealestate.com/ if you're looking for real estate properties. Additionally, your realtor may also be able to recommend local movers that can help you when it's time to move to your new home.

These brokers can provide information about the city's economy, schools, market pricing, and demand in a specific location. Even better if you can locate an agent that resides in your neighborhood or desired location.

Engaging Character and Chemistry

In addition to dealing with properties, real estate brokers also deal with people. You should pick a real estate broker you get along with because you'll correspond with them over several weeks or months when you purchase or sell a property.

This is where communicating with a few potential agents is helpful. You can find out whether this is an individual you like and get along with by asking them about their expertise and how they'll assist you in selling or purchasing a home, in addition to how they'll help you with other questions.

Adaptability

Employing a real estate agent requires them to be flexible because the property market and economy are dynamic. Likewise, circumstances in your life may change. Skilled home sellers will be aware that your search may be put on pause or that you may be able to finance more opulent properties if you get promoted or quit your job.

Additionally, it would help if you had a broker available to go showings with you on weekends and after business hours.

Personalized Communication Based on Your Preferences

Although it might not seem important, being able to speak effectively will assist you in avoiding missing out on a new listing and maintaining the purchasing or selling process moving forward. Brokers need to be aware that millennials, for instance, prefer texting when dealing with firms.

Ask potential agents about their preferred communication methods and how they would reach you in an emergency. If you need an expert on real estate law but you're based in Spain, then a Spanish speaking lawyer in Miami, FL may help with communicating your real estate wants and needs.

Helpfulness

Whether providing pointers for a fruitful open house or suggesting how to prepare your home for a showing, your realtor ought to be ready to offer guidance. Whether you’re moving into a smaller house or purchasing a property for the first time, they go above and beyond since they want to see you thrive. They can also advise you on which professional moving and storage companies to hire. So if you're in the process of moving and you're looking for professional storage solutions, then you may visit the best site here to know more.

Conclusion

Purchasing or selling a house may take a little longer if you work with a real estate broker with the above attributes. However, after you locate the ideal agent, you'll see that your efforts were worthwhile.