INSIDE: One of my readers wrote in about “child support taking all my money.” Please comment with your suggestions below…
So yeah, don’t even know where to start on this one :) Don’t have any kids of my own yet, and haven’t a clue about child support and how exactly all that stuff works out. All I know is it makes me sad. Mainly for the kids, but also for their wallets. 60% is a LOT of money! Man…
I’m hoping some of you can chime in and share some of your thoughts? Maybe you’re experiencing something similar and/or have advice on how to improve their situation? I know our reader would REALLY really appreciate it, and I think it’ll help the others out there going through the same thing that may be too afraid to ask. Here’s the situation:
Child Support Taking All My Money
My husband and I have been happily for married for 3 years. I’m his second wife and he’s got two children from a previous marriage. She lives 9 hours away so we get the children on long breaks, summers, etc.
I don’t plan to have any kids of my own… reason #1 being we can’t afford them!
The custodial parent, ex-wife, gets 60% of his net income for two children. Two whole pay checks plus part of another go straight to her! Every time there’s a change in circumstance, (oldest takes piano lessons, youngest enrolls in ballet), we go back to court, pay more legal fees and ultimately, the CS order is increased. He knows the children are his financial responsibility too… but good God! He’s gotta eat! I don’t know how he’d survive financially if he wasn’t married.
He and his ex-wife both bring home about $3000 per month. Only, we’re only able to see about $1000+/- of his money after witholdings and CS. He could get a second job… but ultimately, he’d just pay out more and they payoff to us wouldn’t be worth the time away from home?
I knew when I married him I’d be taking a financial hit, and I have. I still manage to save for retirement, not incur debt and keep a little cash tucked away but we definitely don’t live the lifestyle we would otherwise be able to afford. My poor husband can’t afford to put anything away for retirement. We don’t have excessive debts, just a car payment and two student loans. We don’t have any credit cards. We don’t own our home. We don’t shop excessively. We don’t eat out. You can imagine the resentment I feel for working my butt off to pay for someone else’s kids. But, what we do for love, right?
My husband and I both have good jobs with good benefits. I’m sure there’s lot of families out there in this situation.
What’s your advice on coping with ever increasing child support payments? Do you put off saving and then “double up” the saving once the kids are grown? I’m able to put some of my check away into our retirement… but what about my husband? Does he have to put his financial planning on hold for the next 13 years? Do you think it’s “unethical” to make a minimal cash income on the side and not report it? **I think I do**
Whatcha got for her, friends? Have you experienced child support taking all of your money? Let’s try and get them on a good game plan :) I’m drawing a blank… except for that last one, I don’t mess around w/ that non reporting stuff. Too afraid of getting in trouble!
I did find this child support FAQ. Maybe it will help people in this predicament.
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Divorce (on paper) the second wife. The seconds wife’s income is counting towards what the judge sees as “his” income. Without that second income, the judge might be willing to drop the amount being paid.
what state do you live in? michigan does not use both incomes, only the seperate parents of the kids. their spouses do not play in to child support.
If you share a joint checking or savings account the judge WILL see both incomes as one (“his”).
No, they will not see that as one income. That is what W2’s and tax returns are for.
The new wife’s income will not be included. Ex-wife can’t touch it.
The only rare instance is when the new spouse is independently wealthy and the non-custodial parent is living a lavish life.
But for everyday working people, the new spouse’s income is untouchable.
It’s hard my had kids with his ex wife….( We have two little girls together) his ex has custody and my is not behind in child support. My was ordered to pay $700 a mth. In child support. His son was living with us and the mother was getting child support, good stamps,etc.my husband had been fighting in court for two years now. They have taken our tax refund totaling $29,000 so far and I’m not even sure what’s going on now since it’s still being disputed in court. After six years now the mother is taking back her child she never fought for until they ordered child support payments to cease because she’s been lying! I don’t know if we will ever get that money back but supposedly the attorney general office has a levy on our tax returns and we’re trying to see about credit owed to us or how they are going to figure out this whole mess! It’s crazy….. Can anyone help me understand what’s going to happen or has anyone been through something similar?
Me and my girlfriend was in a relationship for 2years, we split January this year as she left me home with the 2year old baby witch was her child.. She then did not come back home one nite as she was with a male cheating on me, her money went into my savings account, that’s adds up to £160.. If i draw it out the bank that’s in my name can she press any charges against me for doing so?? Can anyone help me with this question please.. Asap many thanks kelly
It’s never worth the risk in my opinion. Using money that’s not technically yours can lead to all sorts of possible problems later. I’d be extra careful :(
Your bank account, your money. 100% certain. Even if the account was in both names.
If the bank account is under your name and your tax id you can use what ever money is within that account. As well as if it is a joint account a joint account gives both people access usually one is a primary person. If you can get a account balance ,If you can get information on the account from a teller then you can withdraw money. Federal law insures that tellers and or banks can only give people this type of information if the account is there’s primary or joint.The only time this would be illegal is if you yourself are not on the account and try to use the funds then in that case its called theft. (I should know I work at a bank and deal with things like this on a daily basis.) I wish you luck and god bless you and that child.
Some individuals just be talking out the ass. they really don’t know what the hell they are talking about. just say shit without the thought of research. how do they know you have a joint account?
My husband pay child support, my income is more and we want a joint account. But will child support take our joint income to increase back pay oif cold support.
And the children are grown now (in there 20’s) and the mom does not share this with them. Why is it continued when children are grown and working with their kids and marriage
He is still paying because he didn’t pay before when the children were underage & the mother had to find a way to support them all by herself, possibly going into debt,, & therefore he owes a child support debt.
This is what I’m thinking, too. I know my daughter’s ex owes around 30K at the moment. He only paid support for two months when it was time for him to go to criminal court to try to argue he had children relying on him for support and couldn’t go to jail. Not that they ever send them anyway no matter how evil they are toward multiple women.
My friend was in this position. She had to have her own bank account and had to file her income tax separate. IRS can take a refund for back support. Keep your finances separate, Her husband owed $10,000.
Get a joint account. The children are grown therefore support has stopped. He is paying arrears which is money already owed cause he didn’t pay. You can also file a joint tax return and get money back. You need to complete an IRS form for injured spouse relief. The IRS will then calculate what part of the return is yours, which part is his, and send you your share.
Where do you live,because I live in California. I am worried that it might happen to me .
Do you have any updates on this. We also are in Michigan. My husband gave up all assets on divorce but yet she is still chasing up for payment since she has become aware of me
My husband has 3 kids from a previous relationship. A year after the 3rd was born he found out it wasn’t his. Moving forward……we are married with 1 child of our own now. We have his 3 kids every Tuesday until Wednesday morning (he picks them up from school on Tuesdays and they stay the night and he brings them to school Wednesday morning) we also have them every weekend until Monday morning which again he drops them off to school. He is paying 30% child support plus all their health insurance needs. Me and my husband fight on a daily basis because he’s paying all this money to their mother that A owns her own business B drives a brand new Mercedes and we can’t afford to put food in our fridge. Am I wrong for being upset? Please some input would help ease my mind. Oh BTW this is not court ordered. If he doesn’t pay she holds the kids for ransom.
My husband has two kids with different moms. One doesn’t work and her husband works three jobs to afford her spoiled brat lifestyle. The other has a masters degree as a teacher making $60,000-70,000 a year and works a waitress job on the weekends making more money. The second mother is so greedy she’s taking him back for more child support. We can barely afford essential items and live paycheck to paycheck. We both make $14 and hour. He pays their benefits and pays both moms $600-700 a month in child support. He only makes $145 a week. Who can live off of that by themselves?! The second mom has a brand new infinity and lives in a nice house. We can barely afford our mortgage on a mobile home which is fairly new (2014 model). The second mom also lied on her financial affidavit when she originally filed for child support saying she only worked as a waitress when she was in fact making $20 an hour as a teacher. My husband is a bit lazy because he is afraid of the courts from spending $13,000 on his first kid to end up getting screwed. So now I’m trying to figure out how I can stick it to those money hungry brats by trying to find out if I can claim one of the children and still file injured spouse on our joint return. That way they can’t screw him even more with their back child support that was just ridiculous. So don’t think you’re crazy. I read an article of this greedy chick asking online of she is able to receive her ex husbands wife’s tax return to intercept it for her back child support she needs apparently. That made me so fired up because I couldn’t even believe a woman would ask for someone else’s money who’s not biologically related to their child. What kind of greedy monster would even dare ask a question like that???!!! Anyways, don’t feel bad cause I know exactly what you are going through.
Perhaps you should have considered child support before marrying someone who was paying child support to two different women. THAT should have been a red flag to you and if HE had any intelligence at all he would get away from YOU before you end up knocked up because it seems YOU are money hungry and simple minded. His first obligation is to his children. Period. I hope you aren’t able to claim “injured spouse” or better yet, maybe you will owe the IRS. All of you who are complaining about child support should have either found spouses who didn’t already have a family and the ones who complain about paying and being broke should have worked your crap out and not broken up your child’s home. To those wanting to claim your step child as dependents on tax returns, you had better be sure you have a court order stating you have permission, as well as file the appropriate forms signed by the custodial parent because that is federal law. The real shame here is that these poor kids have to spend any amount of time with a step parent who resents their existence and begrudges them financial support. Shame on you. To those complaining about paying too much – get off your rear and file a modification petition. If you are indeed paying too much, the court will adjust the amount, but be careful. My ex husband’s wife insisted he file a modification to have support reduced and it actually INCREASED an extra $105 per week. My kids are thanking her for that from the shoe store because they can finally get more than one pair of shoes per year!!! Step parents better back up because those kids and ex’s were in his life long before you and they will still be there long after you are gone. If you truly love him, stop making his life hell by complaining all the time and accept the fact that he is a package deal and no matter what financial percentages the court imposes, morally, his kids are 50% HIS responsibility. He made them and shouldn’t expect to enjoy the life he had before because his kids certainly are not. They LOST a parent in all of this. Now think about that.
Would you be saying that if the man had custody?
Doubtful.
LOL Ditto. She obviously is a reaper rather than a sower.
Here’s the thing. I fully understand your point of view but it doesn’t take in to account that things happen. Have ever done anything in your younger years that still haunt you in the current day. Child support is not for the child’s benefit. It is a way for the state/ government to receive monies from those support orders. The state gets a percentage of each and every penny they collect for custodial parents. There are so many other ways to enforce parents to do the right thing. Offer classes, mandatory time with non-custodial parents, etc. that’s doesn’t happen because it’s all about the money. The unfortunate matter is the custodial parent has the chance to better their life, gain additional income, qualify for mortgage loans and a host of other advantages. No one can live on 40% of ones net income in today’s economy. There are many situation but most people in the system are young kids early in adulthood who had unprotected sex. They don’t get the chance to mature figure things out and support themselves well enough to cultivate a home and life suitable to be a great parent. The child support system limits them by the amounts they deem fit. Check the stats on the success rates after child support. Most are mothers that have raised their financial/ class of living and have a substantial retirement savings. The losers are middle aged fathers from 40-50 years of age with little to nothing and starting from scratch to save a have a better life.
In closing if it was really about caring for ones children; then mothers who chose to give their children up for adoption would have to pay child support as well.
Not true. If a mother gives her child up for adoption, she shouldn’t have to pay child support because she knew she couldn’t support it and gave it a chance at a better life. And for all those young kids that didn’t get the chance to mature and figure things out yet–they shouldn’t have been having sex if they couldn’t figure things out yet. Don’t have unprotected sex most of all. They start younger and younger and then cry about the results. It’s called consequences for the choices you make. You have to pay for them so you won’t keep doing it again. Also for all the ones complaining about no money because of three previous kids and two with you, it wouldn’t matter if he stayed with the first wife, he wouldn’t have any money then either. When you support five kids, you are going to be broke any way you look at it.
If he is morally responsible for 50 percent. Then can I assume your morally given him 50 percent of the time? If not truly this is not any sensible moral.it would balance that he pays more and gets less. Am I wrong ? Or are the children a burden to you? In that sense your getting paid back for your moral duties ..so that’s not moral either..should be less time less money. Cause you get the time and he gets the shaft
I can say so many perhaps at this point darling here’s a few. Perhaps my husbands exwife can get up and actually find a REAL job- she’s a home tarot card reader lmao. Perhaps my husbands exwife can stop receiving food stamps and any government assistance. Perhaps my husbands exwife can stop buying expensive designer glasses for all three kids every couple of months and bill my husband for half. Perhaps my husbands exwife can stop buying my step kids junk food with her food stamps because all 3 are obese. Perhaps she can stop poisoning my step kids minds with nonsense. Or maybe perhaps she can finally stop causing drama in our life and stalking us everywhere we go. Before you start pointing fingers look at your own and make sure they are clean- which I’m pretty sure they’ve got some dirt on them too.
True I have 3 girls I don’t work cause I take care my kids I don’t know anybody I don’t have friend to help me out with
My girls recently my husband leave me for a side chick and now he do pay all the bills but he don’t send money home for his kids. We married this side chick tell him no to give me money anymore and he did look las be real fathers complain about paying child support but. We the ones who take them to the doctor appointments go to school meetings.some woman’s have to work and take care the kids take off from work to get a sick child from school stay all night if your kids sick knowing nex day they have to work so. Talking about child support and new car. I thinking woman deserves those things. My husband walk out us and will man happy and go out on a date we in the house taking care our kids we don’t have no freedom. Personally I didn put my husband on child support cause I wanted to or to being greedy because my girls don’t have to suffer wild he is taking care some else kids. I can even buy simple things. Now some people gonna said then work y’all don’t know my situation he knows and he don’t care. So for those who complain thinking twice is good mothers out there if he would do his job I don’t have to put him on child support
Honey. Please proofread next time. I can barely understand all of your broken English. Sheesh!
You are so angry because you’re the money hungry mother they’re talking about
Opinions like that are stupid and shows your ignorance. Its unfortunate and sad how you feel. What a waste!
Wow….You must not know how hard it is. Most stepmoms don’t want them to not pay and love those kids just as much as if they were hers. Its about the fact that they can’t pay there bills buy food for the kids when they have them. its super hard. In some states it don’t matter how little or much you make they take the court ordered amount even if you go to a less paying job and going to court cost something most step parents don’t have.
I think it’s insane how many people are bashing this woman. Plenty of “mature people” have children and still wind up divorced. Have you seen the rate in the United States? There are plenty of women and men who make mistakes because we are human and that is what we do. My fiance was with his girlfriend for 7 years and high school sweethearts with two beautiful little girls. She cheated on him multiple times he had no idea then took the children away with this new guy 3 hours away and my honey had no idea where his kids were. Oh by the way she admits this and in court and apologized to him but doesn’t matter. The court said she never should have taken then but she still did anyway. Thousands of dollars later trying to show the court she is LITERALLY an alcoholic and has put the children in danger multiple times by having been passed out drunk or not even being home, she has custody, lives with MY ex who makes 100k (and admits to saying to my fiance “if I stay with you I struggle if I go and he with him I get to go on vacations at the drop of a hat”) and she lives off of him (has bragged that she doesn’t pay for anything she keeps her money from the only job she’s ever had anywhere, Victoria’s Secret, for manicures and purses etc) while my fiance pays and is even looking to adopt my daughter I have with my abusive ex (went to court) who this girl is with and my ex has dropped off the face of the earth and doesn’t care about my little girl. That is fine because if he couldn’t hold his temper with an adult what is he going to do with a child? Who only knows another man as daddy who never hurt anyone?
My fiance works for the post office. he has insurance covered. He is only scheduled to work 4 days a week but works 6 to pay the child support for this woman who I know does not go to the kids. She is barely with her children as we have her word and proof that she goes out drinking all the time. Yes. we are fighting in court as the children come here with snarled hair and crying that my ex is hitting them and their mommy is locking them in their room and going in the other room and being “loud” with my ex. But here’s the deal people. Some people are not good. some people try to make it work and get screwed over. We barely make it. and I’m not saying we barely make a lavish lifestyle I mean we don’t eat out we only buy diapers for my daughter and feed her and some days we barely eat anything. It isn’t your place to judge if you haven’t lived the hell of dealing with someone who really just is malicious and out to get you. And I’m pregnant too, and out of jealousy this woman has come to my house and lingered just to harass me. Working 6 days a week or a part time job just puts you in a higher tax bracket so guess what grossing 2400$ the government takes 600$ his ex get 450$ and we only bring home 1100 after other deductions ins. etc. I understand there are some people who are complaining and don’t care. I get there are mom’s who take care of their children take them to doctors appointments and sports but this woman is not that woman it’s my ex’s sister or her friend and if that money was going to shoes that fit or hairbrushes or clothing that made sense like jeans in winter shorts in summer not vice versa or actual coats in negative weather maybe I would understand. Because these are children who rely on parents to take care of them and be their voice when they have none. But there are some people who genuinely are not good, and are selfish, not just for money, and being able to see my exhausted love of my life is not something I think I have to “suck up” because he wasn’t “mature” or should have triple checked before being with this girl and devoting himself to her. Before you open your mouth to judge other people step in their shoes. there are people struggling to make a living and children struggling too because they aren’t seeing a dime of money. I don’t think it’s fair to attack someone because oh well you made a baby with her deal with the consequences. Obviously having children is a very real thing that should be taken seriously. I feel for all of you who are in a similar situation as us. I just want to be able to make a payment for a roof over our heads and for the girls when the come over. Not Gucci purses and cruises. (yes. cruises.)
I logged in today because I’m going through the same thing. I hate to complain, because I see now that my situation could be worse. My husband has 3 kids with a witch who makes twice as much as we do. She has free lawyers through her job at Proctor and Gamble, so she takes us to court whenever the wind blows. We had to get a lawyer to avoid losing our shirt. My husband pays $600 on time every month. He’s up to date on all his payments. So she took us back to court for $200 more a month.We just found out she might get it and doesn’t need it. I know he needs to pay child support he had those kids. I just don’t think she should take it all. Now I’m going to suffer. But it could be worse, at least he wasn’t dumb enough to have several kids with various people.
Wow…$600/mo. to support 3 children….what a travesty of justice! that mother must really live it up on that $600 after she pays the kids’ expenses.. Heck, I bet she could feed those 3 kids on $50/month. I mean, how much could those kids eat, & why do they need clothes anyway. And she heats her house for herself anyway, doesn’t she,,,so why does she need child support? They’re her kids, aren’t they? why should the spermbank have to support them? Yeah, I can see there is great injustice in collection of child support. I mean, 49% of child support is paid in this country, & 25% of that receives at least some of the support owed. Really, doesn’t that prove that child support is just used to exploit the father?
Wow $600. I pay $1400 for 3 children….You got off way too easy
My fiancé pays $3000/mo including a 19yo and they recently divorced so no back support. However, the custody and support agreement states some bs about keeping all three on support until the youngest 10 is 18. P.S.: he also pays all medical expenses and her post grad student loans. And the kids have 10,14, 19. Have zero concept of monetary value and will request a trip to the mall and restaurant seafood every other weekend. Or a new phone or computer by they break -or lose theirs quarterly. *ugh*
The fact that you think $600 a month even touches what three children need is hilarious.
RoseNikki.. You are so judgemental about things you have no experience with enduring. Absolutely full of would have should have could have bs. From the start, you are saying, people should have not gotten with people who already had families.. if thats not the dumbest thing Ive ever heard. For instance, the statistics state that in most cases, the woman is the one who files for divorce. So, by your logic, if your wife leaves you for another man, (very common) or whatever the situation, then he should be fighting to keep the wench to keep his family together, LOL. She hated him enough to screw another man, then why would he risk stalking charges pursuing some worthless garbage failed attempt at making a woman into a good wife, when she isnt one. But, by your logic, he should live a lonely solitary life regardless. The truth is, they can garnish 65% of income, which leaves people facing becoming homeless unless they have help with their living situation. This is an abomination of the law. You cant take so much of someones money that they cant afford their own reasonable rent, and also take their drivers license, and call it anything other than modern day slave labor. All you have to do in America now to become a slave is get CHild support involved in your life. Wake up lady, articles like this can wake people up and help bring much needed change to a severely messed up system.
The child support system is what it is; however, when a man tells a girl (who prior to becoming pregnant – on birth control so the story was) that he does not want to have the child and offers to pay for the abortion and health care to obtain one, he should not be required to pay child support for that child in my opinion. SHE made the decision entirely on her own to have the child. I view it much like a woman who goes to a sperm bank and has a donor. That donor does NOT pay child support. I don’t see why it is different. The man was a sperm donor for a lying woman who wanted a child. The whole system is broken. Unmarried women with children get mostly free college, benefits, day care, etc. and the man is stuck for 18 years. Totally unfair.
Apparently you haven’t really delt with being screwed child support is a racket. If they really did it the right way then it wouldn’t be so unrealistic. Who the he’ll spends half of there total income on 1 child no one it’s bs
What do u do when an ex taskes u for more money and does not tell court the child is not living with her!
You send like the typical bitter ex that’s upset he’s moved on. Stop trying to milk the man & take care of the children EQUALLY! Sometimes relationships/marriages don’t work out. That’s life!!! MOVE ON! You can’t stand to see your ex happy & you use child support as leverage & your children as a pawn. Think of caring for your children. Life’s too short to stay miserable. And I’m an ex wife that has never received a dime of child support but my child’s well being is more important than getting back at my ex. Move on lady….MOVE ON!
Child support is ok, but not to the point noncustodial parent has nothing!
Obviously this is why the system is changing, as it must. This commenter can’t grasp the fact that she is actually divorced, and therefore uses a child as an object to attempt to exert control over two sovereign human beings, and obviously can’t keep emotion in check enough to respond rationally to a reasonable discussion. Perhaps she should be mentally evaluated and have all children removed from her home until she is proven to not be as abusive to them as she had proven herself to be toward her ex and his non-rejectable wife.
Amen couldnt say it no better
ATTN: RoseNikki
Your “argument” is flawed in so many ways. You sound like the sort of lady who sits on her ass at home all day; waiting for her husband to pay childsupport. So she doesn’t have to do anything, but take “care” of the kid. And if that’s not the case.. you probably do work and use that child support on YOURSELF.
Wake up and smell the roses sunshine; this is the year 2018! Women are able to take care of themselves; and neither party should be paying child support. How low one must be.. to require another individual to be paying YOUR way through life. Grow a pair!
Amen!!!! You couldn’t have said it better. Women like this kill me. Stop being bitter because he’s MOVED ON!!!!
We are all imperfect but all human. And we all only have one mother and father.
I got married and two children. My husband left to become a trucker.
My son has to be home schooled.
I am his Green card sponsor.
He has lied for 3 years.
He went 10 months without seeing our children.
I just gave birth to second baby when he left.
I have a degree
Yet, I hav eno baby sitter.
I live with family but my folks are seniors.
My husband uses false adress of melteling friend who help him cheat and avoid paying child support.
no separation is ok.
A fmaily gotten broken. How many years?
My husband never had stop having relationship . and I learned of infidelity
and trick every time.
No two world is the same.
Please try to speak with more sensitivity
because like my case there are EXTREME cases
and even going to court is stressful.
Remember that man you are blessed to be .
also, fail his kids and his wife.
That wife was promised a family.
There you are having a life.
Some women dont have any personal life because you might have not been the homewrecker.
But still youshould have the outmost compassion
you got someone else’s family missing link
that is grieving the lost of a loved one
that can be a great pain and nobody has the right ..Please make a mental note and consider this
You ..have no right to tell that previous wife that has his children to STOP missing, loving, or having mixed feelings.
you should know as a woman they both will always have feeling.
and maybe,,, You should accept
the fact they were there first and children are his family forever.
I pray for the lack of sensitivity.
You are in the middle of children’s development.
You dont know needs of any household.
Maybe, you can invest more in getting to know his ex wife.
I once dated a man who was divorce and had children.
The ex wife had someone else.
Nobody he was dating before welcomed his kids.
I never dated someone like that
but i said I have to welcome every part of his life with grace.
I focused on giving respect to their history and present.
When people have children they are not history in your partner’s life . Actually, if their is any humanity they need to both coparent and be present in their chidlren’s life.
I found myself coping with even ongoign conversations that they were planning visits.
Lets be adults. Don’t behave ..in such a way you are marginalizing and minimizing someone’s reality , place.
I been emailed by an ex lover who told me I should STOP taking my ex to court.
He barely pays the bills.
You knew he had an exwife and children.Acknowleged. Try to help.
I used to help out that boyfriend with his visits and expenses.
And his ex wife conveyed and hug me
Because her ex was sad
he wa sdating me at the time
but he was sad because he wa sbroken hearted.
dont think your now spouse is telling you the TRUTH.
this was your choice and hopefully he doesn’t abandon you.
Help your partner with his short comings.
When I did date a man who was divorced I regarder him enough to invest.
May it be ,that you are the one who does nto want to give.?
You accepted this man with his HX .
so with all the respect.
You knew his past and his present
I hope I didnt offend
But generealizing ex wife or single mother is cruel
Many times we have to bring our rxes to court because they are even seeing or talking to their children.
and Most of the time is because they are distracted by other partners who whether now marrie dor not knew that they had children and then want to help alienate the children from their father.
that is CRUEL for the children.
Please try to be sensitive and fair
Sociopaths feel no empathy.
65% paid for child support.
9.9% paid for State taxes.
15% paid for Fed taxes.
30% of gross paid for housing.
I’m not a mathematician, but I’d say hand cuffs are in your future. When they all don’t care if you can live…
Except…65% is only withheld from deadbeats who owe back child support. And it is then 65 % garnishment after all state & federal taxes are withheld. And, unfortunately for mothers who support their children completely by themselves, who don’t have the luxury of saying that they won’t be feeding, clothing, and housing their child and bringing her to visitations with the deadbeat father because they needed the money for a rock concert, or for date nights with a new partner, precious few of these dead beats are handcuffed. Or if they are, it is not for non-payment of child support.
First of all, your use of the word “deadbeat” mirrors my family court judge’s attitude. Her Honor (sarcasm intended) does not differentiate between “deadbroke” and “deadbeat” parents. As far as Her Honor is concerned, any parent who does not pay child support for any reason is a “deadbeat”.
Now, let’s do the math here.
Assume you now make $1000 a week after a long period of involuntary unemployment (such as the so-called “Great Recession”) and the court refused to change your child support obligation because “you’ll get another job that pays the same soon”.
After taxes, your take-home pay will be about 750 a week. Now deduct 50% of your gross income from that $750 figure to pay a combination of current child support, a child support arrears, and more interest on the child support arrears than allowed by Federal law [42 US Code 654(21)(a)]. You are now down to about $250 a week take-home pay, which is just over minimum wage.
How are you supposed to support yourself and be more than a visitor in your life when “our friends in government” treat you as an indentured servant who should consider themselves to be damned lucky to be allowed to visit with their children at the custodial parents whim?
I’m also going to ask you the same question that I asked Her Honor when she threatened to lock me up because I did not have the money to pay the retroactive “child support” that I was ordered to pay to my unfaithful ex-wife in a lump sum – how is a parent supposed to be able to work in order to earn the money to support themselves and their children while they are in debtor’s prison?
These people trying to make sense of slavery astound me, The only answer is non compliance anything short of that is voluntary slavery.
Yesssssss…..finally someone who said it like how it should be said!!! : )
You’re wrong! NY state is anti-father!! they don’t care if you have a house note, student loans, bills none of it matters! CS takes 25% of my bf net income plus another 15% for daycare! he can barely afford his bills to keep a roof over his head for when he has his children. He cannot do anything fun with his kids bc the ex takes all his money and buys them ipods and xboxes and trips. We both have good jobs and can barley make it bc the state doesn’t take into account…LIFE! plus the real killer is they divorced 3 years ago when he was still in school, yet the court finds it fun to give the kids a lifestyle that they never had off their fathers back. the ex makes really good money too almost equal yet he has to pay! NY STATE does nothing but downgrades a fathers earning power therefore interfering with his relationships with his children. this is also with joint custody and until sept 2018 he had the children 3-4 a week! it’s gross. oh yeah and NYS wants him to pay 51% of her health prem. even though he was carring the kids on his but the court switched it bc she requested it! So it;s closer to 48-50% net income goes to a women who doesn’t provide for the children, but gets her hair done and goes on shopping trips to NYC, yet drops the children off in small clothes and not showered for days! awesome. thanks NYS…we’re going for custody.
Having kids that the man didn’t want or made a mistake choosing those certain females is not having a family. I can tell you a money-hungry mother with fatherless children yourself. You sound hurt.
I agree, if a man wants to complain about child support then be with the mother so that raising the child is cheaper. That old saying is true, it is cheaper to keep her! Especially if the mother wants to work things out. It burns me up when a new woman comes along and gets angry at child support when they wrecked the family by not getting out of the way so that the father can work it out with the mother. I spent 6 years with my sons father and he cheated on me and got the new woman pregnant so I left and filed support on him. He got ordered 1400$ for our son and it is more than half his income. So now that new woman wants to complain about how he can’t afford to take care of her baby. I’m like well that’s karma! She shouldn’t have slept with a man who already had a family!
“ being broke should have worked your crap out and not broken up your child’s home”
Wow someone got cheated on. I am very happy I am not as miserable as you sound. I happily paid for 2 of my husbands children and provided them food and shelter but it is not my obligation to provide for children when the mother uses them as a paycheck and them continued to have idk 9 more children she cannot provide for. I chose to be childless and I did chose to marry a good man with a lot of baggage and a crazy X.
Not everyone can plan their life out to be a cold heartless person but you seem like you’re doing a great job.
I have to agree with Nikki. You married into this problem. These other women are not trying to hurt you yet you believe it’s your task to beat them. You married a $14 per hour sperm bank who doesn’t have the sense to wear a condom. Unfortunately the simplest way to lower his support is for you to have a baby. Then when he dumps you, you can get in the child support queue with the other baby mamas.
Men. Are getting hit way to hard, women use children to hurt men. My son met a evil woman a couple times. She disappeared, over two years later she shows up with baby in arms. Saying it was his. ….. She was married, her husband was in Navy, he and his parents thought the baby was his, Navy paid all bill for baby, birth ect. Grandparents added a lot to make life wonderful for baby. One day evil woman decides to leave Navy man , letting him know baby is not his, he wants the baby and so do parents, but D&A said it wasn’t his. Evil woman sits out to find my son . When she takes him to court, she claims, she went Hungary while pregnant Had now means of support because she was to sick to work. Son works construction at the time making pretty good money. Court ordered him over $600 dollars a month child support ( wheather there was work or not) and u can never believe this, order him to pay her $16,000 from time of conception… So she got money from Navy for FRUAD and my son is $16,0000 in debt day one with $600 a month he owes. We have paper to prove she drew money from Navy for baby from conception, till after she left. Now the child is grown in late 20’s and my son, has to pay the evil woman almost $600 a month on the money the Navy already gave her. She gambles, travels, has a ball with money from my son and a dead husband!!!! The child was never given any of the money, in fact he was placed in foster care for her husband beating him, my son was never notified , the evil woman just drew the money and gambled, and partied . The child also would not live at home for last year or more of HS , the evil woman would not give him any money to help him . My son just pays and pays. And of course she rarely works, but he can’t claim this on his taxes, . He served in Airforce, woman’s husband was Navy, son Airforce. Great way for good military men to be treated. This happened in Tn. We have tried to do something, but she can afford good lawyer. We can’t seem like the Navy would care she committed fraud against them, and last we heard of her Navy husband he had committed suicide , men are now being mistreated for what use to be done to women, I was divorced mom who rarely got any money, and some women never got a dime, but that was other men, a generation ago now courts are making men pay, pay and pay,. Like the poor guy above paying 60percent of his salary, and one child not his. Please , please someone help make courts be fair. This is a horror story if u are forced to live it it.
I have the same situation at this time. My fiancé’s child support increased double, there has to be something to prove this “system wrong” How can they only care about the previous family and let the new family be in debt. I do not believe that a child spends 1000 dollars a month. This is an injustice for fathers, that the only thing they do is work hard to pay child support, living and not even being able to afford food or provide a good life for their new family due to this high payments on child support
You are not wrong for having those feelings. I am in the same situation. Child Support is extemely unfair to the NON CUSTODIAL parent. I believe that the child support guidelines are outdated and need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
I’m currently going through the same situation. In California, new spouse income is not counted towards child support… it is used as a factor in determining support, but only because it affects the tax liability on the support parent.
So if I make 50k a year and that puts me in a 20% tax bracket that would leave me with 40k a year in net income… but if my wife makes 50k a year and that bumps us up to a 30% tax bracket, my 50k salary, which would have been 40k in net income for me, now becomes 35k in net income for me, so it actually lowers my child support because my tax liability went up… and in ca child support is calculated off of net income.
Hope that helps and was understandable
Ps. I agree, the system is totally screwed. My ex works 7hrs a week at Starbucks and wants me to pay based off of multiple jobs and 80-100 hour weeks. The system is a total joke.
What can we do. This has got to change . Read my story under Gloria.
I don’t believe there is a single state where they include the new spouse’s income. Now if you walk into court and tell them your name is not on the house, your name is not on any vehicles, you own nothing in the house, you have no money in the bank, etc, etc, etc they will know you are hiding your assets under your spouse’s name and will therefore assume you actually can pay child support because you are not paying any bills. In the case of the above case, father had a shitty lawyer, period. No one should have to pay 60% of their income for child support. More over, all these things, piano lessons, dance, sports, etc should be coming out of the child support mom is already getting not having child support renegotiated every time Ken and Barbie take up a new hobby. Seriously, either the new wife is lying or dad seriously had the worst lawyer he could find.
My husband also has a daughter from a previous relationship. We are lucky that he doesn’t have to pay 60%, however I know many that do. Some, as you said, are unmarried and have had to move back in with their parents at 40+ years old because they could no longer afford to support themselves with what is left.
I’m going to have to agree with J. in not messing around with “under the table” earnings. If the custodial parent is taking you back to court as often as you say, you are going to be in big trouble if she catches wind of unreported income. You may owe back CS, taxes, fines, etc. That’s even riskier to your situation than where you are now.
This is part of the life that you chose. That sounds harsh, but it’s true. Having resentment towards the situation won’t solve any of your problems. Have you considered picking up a second job? Your income isn’t figured into the equation. I have a good feeling that isn’t what you want to do with your current feelings, but it may be necessary if you want a more financially stable life for yourself and your husband.
How about you get a second job?
Uhhh… all income goes towards support… you could have 4 jobs and it wouldn’t solve the problem.
Wrong they can only take up to 60% of your income if there doing that already they cant take from your other job trust me I pay cs in Ohio and I’ve done it for 12 yrs now
When your income increases, so does the amount / %. If you have $1000, 60% is $600. If you increase your income to say $1200, 60% is now $720.
Wrong. In most states, only the first full time job is counted, provided that you work full time at that job for at least 48 weeks per year. Overtime can’t be counted against you if it’s not a requirement of your job and not guaranteed as a regular thing. Also, if both parents bring home about $3000, there should be minimal child support. Child support is meant to bridge the gap between the parents incomes to make them about the same. Also, if custodial parent gets daycare assistance, food stamps, or cash aid that counts as income. Same for financial aid for college. I’ve done a lot of research on this subject. The new wife’s income does not count towards the fathers income.
In NY ALL income is counted so if you acquire another job to make ends meet, she can ask for more. I go back every year so she can slice me up some more. My take home is $160 a week. Since my income is imputed, I am forced to pay support based on my potential income and not my actual income. I live in squalor with no hope of every getting out all while she still lives in a beautiful house, drives a new car and takes really great vacations. I drive a 20 year old vehicle to three jobs just to meet my obligation. It isn’t just the $35% support but then I get monthly bills for her out of pocket expenditures which I can never know in advance in order to budget for. It is a deeply flawed system.
I also live in NY and it shouldn’t be every year anymore. Every 3 yrs from last modified, then either one of you can go back and request a new modification /adjustment. It really depends on how your papers were written up.
3 years is absolutely correct!
This is percent true! This is my current situation. My children’s father has two jobs but they can only pull from the primary.
Ya the second job. So then they take more..and when you get old or to tired to work that hard now your adjusted at a higher rate .and it never goes down. Should be 50 50 period. How could anyone think different. Well unless they actually wanted to take money and not truly to what’s right..
How come nobody has changed the law? Nobody has ever said “this is crazy, the law is not fair, there has to be a more humain and reasonable way to make this work”.
Unfortunately, the law only sees money and does not put the kids first. Also, the law only favors the mom, why is that? I have seen mothers making double what the fathers makes, and still the father has to pay 60% of his income. How is that possible?
I agree. It’s crap. I was ordered to pay support. I was unemployed at the time we went in for the hearing. Even though I was unemployed and not collecting unemployment, they still ordered me to pay a set amount based on the wages of my last job. How do they know I would get a job making that gains? I have been studying up on how to change this. Florida, from my understanding, is the worst when it comes to this.
Tell him to go on welfare and work for cash as the system screws him screw it back
Then instead of child support he would be looking at 3 hots and a cot. His wife would have put money on his books. Then children support will come out of his Commissary.
Helena you are do right.Im in Florida and my husband is having two different jobs taken out.He pays 850 that was court ordered and they are taking out his national Guard check of at least 65 %.Military pay says they won’t stop it until a judge signs and a judge has now signed and military says it isn’t good enough.He also has his overtime that he has to work to make it and she gets that as well,and he is not in the rears
People have to work together to get laws changed. My husband has given up. He hasn’t been able to live up to his NY alimony agreement since it started and is almost $200k in arrears. One kid is now married and the other about to finish college and go to law school. He’s still paying child support as if he has 2 teenagers. Plus the giant alimony, which is the bulk of the payment.
We can’t afford a lawyer. His payments are supposed to be $1,776 per week. 55% of his pay gets deducted and goes directly to her and since he doesn’t even make that much per week, he is always behind and it’s been this way since we met 4 years ago. I married him anyway. I thought by now something would change. She lives with a millionaire and they started a company together. For all we know she married him too. Because how would we know? She lives in a mansion and drives a luxury car. Takes vacations all the time.
Even to do a modification ourself is complicated. Three states are involved and we don;t even live in NY. He lived there briefly when she filed for divorce.
My husband basically has resigned himself to paying her forever and letting the arrears pile up. Me? I can’t sleep at night and my growing resentments are making me hate him for not doing something about this. He works 12 hour days, 6 days a week. I’ve told him to just quit and follow his dreams and who cares what he makes because we’re resigned to being poor. Giving any money to her at all makes me ill.
I’m in a low-paying field and already work long hours. At 52, I’m not going to find a way to hustle a $100K a year to bail us out. His job pays that. But with 55% going to her pre-tax, and then the government taking their share, he’s making peanuts for the hours he puts in and the shit he puts up with.
Why work at something you hate if you have to hand it back to the someone who kicked you to the curb without looking back? I can’t even wrap my head around any of this.
It’s the ex-wife I feel the most hatred toward. How can she continue to take and take when she already has so so much? We live in a tiny 1 BR apt and share 1 car. Or rather, he has a car. I rely on him for rides. We gave up my car to save money.
I’m not even sure I can live like this anymore. The resentments are eating me up.
Omg I understand! I married someone who has a money hungry ex and I hate her!!! She initially went to court and lied saying she had no income and that he had two jobs when he didnt… he couldn’t afford a lawyer so she was granted temporary support for $1600 a month. She actually made more money than he did and its tax free bcs she sits on her lazy ass being a foster parent collecting $4-5k a month. She gets about $800 a month food stamps and gets free medical for her kids (3). He was ordered to pay $400 a month for medical her kids don’t need and he gets garnished for all of this so instead of making $30 base per hr…he brought home $400 biweekly. We subpoenaed her wages and tried to take her back to court showing she lied and was making as much as he was however the courts only took $200 off…fast forward, we get married, paid a lawyer to get an adjustment bc he then had to relocate an hour away and couldn’t afford to keep driving 1hr30mins one way to work for $400 ish biweekly..now he’s making $11.00 high school education only and she’s still making the foster care income plus a part time job and she has the nerve to be playing games with submitting her income…now her lawyer has the nerve to ask for my income info I’M NOT GIVING THEM ANYTHING I’m so over it!! Ugh… resentment, yes!! I don’t even want her kids coming to my house or near me bcs she’s a liar and always starts shit
Where do all these evil women come from. They will lie in court, judge believe the best lawyer who can lie the best. This is awful I feel for u. Remember he is a victim of a child support court system gone crazy. But never check to see if child is being cared for. Just give the evil woman her money.
Perhaps it is because they hide and sensor the true damages. A man burned himself to death in Wisconsin over the treatment of losing his kids and his money to survive. He snapped aND soaked himself in gas and burn to death at the front door of the court house..did anyone hear about that ? I didn’t think so. So maybe if the pain was pushed on to the ones making the rules they would understand more?
Yeah don’t listen to Angie getting a second job doesn’t do any good . I work two jobs and my husband works as many hours as he can at his and we still struggle because of his greedy ex. Don’t forget it’s not just the ever increasing child support they want it’s also the legal fees every time the ex gets an attorney for something that could have been settled out of court between two reasonable people but mom wants to cry in front of court to get more than her fair share .
Awful reply, courts, and lawyers are giving men awful lives. Maybe this was not his choice as u said. I have seen my son work 90 phrase , get that 90 days straight with no day off , and about 5 hrs sleep a night, only job he could find at time drove over an hour each way, to pay money to a woman he ( never married only met a couple of times) . While she went gambling. Biggest loss is the child is wonderful. What few time we have ever got to see him.
Oops. The first commenter must have posted at the same time. Perhaps the spousal income varies by state. We have never had to turn over my income for consideration. They only consider my husband’s.
Angie,
What stated do you live in?
In many states, if you share a joint checking/savings account with your spouse, the judge will consider the total income shown in that/those accounts and label it “his” income. Once you share a joint account, the courts see that money as “his”.
60% of his income may seem high, but the court is also looking at all his assets, and that includes his new wife’s income, as it is a marital asset. This is where she should have done her financial planning before she married him. She needs to maintain her assets as separate property from the marriage. This means no joint bank accounts, no joint credit cards or loans. Nothing owned jointly. I would suggest she meet with a lawyer to figure out how to unentangle her assets from his. Then draw up a post-nup that clearly separates their finances. Once the only assets he has are his solely, then he can go back to court and request they re-evaluate his situation. Although if the wife is receiving spousal support, he may not see a lot of change, child support is normally around 25% of his income, with spousal support on top and can easily reach 50% of his income.
Its her burden for marrying him? 60% is ridiculous.. The child support system is a disgrace to all of us it takes away from a father who’s relationship failed. Well that decision works both ways. The cost of raising a child is no where near what they illegally impose on the fathers. And also how do you justify a modification of support after several years have passed? Just because I’ve bettered my life and moved forward I should be punished? Why should I even try to better myself if all it’ll do is cause me to pay more? Once set it should be done. But the courts seem to think they rule the world. And you well your not seeing clearly.
you sound absolutely brain-dead. raising a child, costs far MORE than what the system imposes on fathers. just because a ” fathers” financial responsibility ends at 18, doesnt mean that it should. the MOTHER still helps, and takes care of there child. regardless of the COURT telling them too. as should the father. THAT is why the court makes it so high. too many Dead Beat Dads, and shit show husbands.
Ashlee, so what you’re telling us is for example, the average person in this case brings home $3000 a month. She said 60% in cs. So he pays roughly $1800 a month. So if you match that $1800 in what the mom should pay to make it equal support for the child, it cost $3600 a month to raise 1 child? This is very interesting to me….
Thank You! I Couldn’t agree more with you as my husband is in the same boat. He doesn’t have a problem paying his share but his sons mother doesn’t have to pay a dime for her child. 50/50 is understandable but a child doesn’t cost as much as the court orders. The sad thing is we have children of our own and his leftover money couldn’t cover that much for our children? To the courts that’s okay…it’s sad
60% of 3000 is a lot of money and she’s a gold digger and is probably live off just that income which gives us moms working our asses off a bad name. Now when you come into a situation like mine it’s frustrating. My daughter is 6 I’ve take full support in my own until recently when after a 4 year power struggle with her dad, we finally go to court. He pays 200 dollars a month and chews me out on a daily basis. I pay 1200 for rent alone, 215 a month for child care, food, school necessities, clothes etc. so there are some shitty dads out there. In your case this is not fair.
But you get the child and the happiness of that. So life’s burdens is what seams not fair to you. If you have the child more he should pay less. People have it ass backwards. Give the father 10 percent and take all the money..how is that even sensible? And how women turn their children into burdens is beyond me. I raised 3 kids on just my income..I never once blamed the kids that I worked hard. Try giving more time to him then it won’t be as expensive for you..doesn’t that sound more like sharing the expenses of raising a child ?
“But you get the child and the happiness of that…” while this statement is true, having the child more means you are required to provide more necessities…clothing, food, education, entertainment, etc. A man, in most cases, has more earning power, and truth be told, has more time to work while the mother is caring for the child(ren). Seems the men don’t want to “man-up”, instead, want to live a a girlfriend’s apartment and squander money on penny-ante things, all the while complaining about paying their half.
You are indeed a saintly person, however. Unfortunately, it costs money to feed and clothe children.
so you say it cost’s a families income 60% to raise 1 child umm, so wrong Christian ministries can feed cloth and school children and adults at less than $1/day , not $60/day or more – true as of 2019 – Non-Profit records and reports FTC.
Yes this is awful in reverse, I do feel for u. But seems courts are way to harsh on men , u are the exception.
I’m late to the game, but the letter states that $1800 is for TWO children. That sound fair to me. I would assume the custodial parent’s contributions will even out to that much or more. Lets consider:
Daycare -The custodial parent was likely a single parent for part or most of her children’s lives, which means she was probably unable to stay home with her children. Monthly daycare costs are astronomical and surpass average rental costs in most parts of the country. Think of what rent for a two-three bedroom house or apartment costs and double it – there’s child care for these two kids. It appears the youngest child is five, so chances are this is the first year without daycare or nanny costs.
Housing – Non-custodial parent and his new wife can live in a studio apartment if they really need to for a short time. It’s not the same case for the custodial parent. She needs a home or apartment big enough for three people and if she’s planning to send them to public school, she needs to factor in the increased costs associated with renting or owning in a desirable school district. Or she needs to plan to pay for private school.
Extracurricular activities – why should the children miss out on participating in dance or science camps or sports? Should they have a different childhood than the one originally planned for them when mom was part of a two parent family? These things can add up to several hundreds of dollars per month.
After school care – If the custodial parent works, chances are she’s paying a person or organization to make sure the kids are safe after school. Schools let out around three. Most jobs don’t.
College- The writer of this letter asks if they should just wait thirteen years – until their child support obligations end when the youngest turns 18. This is a strong indication that dad and stepmom feel no obligation to support the kids through college. If there is extra money from child support, than the custodial parent may be squirreling that away for college costs. We all know how much college costs. A lot of people fell it’s not an obligation to pay for college, but I know I wouldn’t want my daughter to graduate with crippling debt.
It’s not fair for us to pass judgement on the custodial parent. Kids ARE expensive, especially without the benefit of a two person family where there are either two incomes or one person who can provide free childcare and meal planning services.
Child support laws are made with the interest of the child in mind. It unfortunate that other custodial parents are commenting that their former partner does not provide adequate support, but that shouldn’t equate to these two children deserving less than adequate support in anyone’s minds. Divorce is hard enough for everyone. The children’s standard of living shouldn’t have to take a nose dive on top of it.
I love your reply Amy! It couldn’t be more accurate.
What if he has another family with children. Does that mean it is a single parent income home for her now?
That’s his problem. He shouldn’t have abandon the first family for some bimbo. He has to take care of the kids he already has. Why does he need more? He doesn’t.
I take offense to that, Court. Why would you assume he abandoned his first family? My fiancée is in a very similar situation. His ex-wife took the kids to the other side of the country (on “vacation”) before filing divorce proceedings. And now of course, she is the custodial parent and receives support payments. I agree raising kids is hard, and being the custodial parent takes a lot of work. But atleast they get to see their kids almost everyday. The truly hard part is being forced to pay huge amounts of money to your ex, and still not being allowed to be there often enough for your kids. You just have to hope the custodial parent is doing what they’re supposed to. So everyone, stop jumping all over these poor parents who are just trying to move on with their lives. Child support should be fair. Every child of divorced parents should have the right to TWO happy, loving households. But it is hard to have this when our family court system so blatantly favors one parent over the other.
We should all just agree that the entire family court system is unfair and leave it at that. Ok, I’m stepping off my soapbox now.
Very well said
Who said HE abandoned his family for some bimbo? 70% of divorces are started by women and it doesn’t take 25% of his income to pay his fair share to support his children.
My ex-wife was screwing around on me, got pregnant from another man, lied to me to get a quick divorce so she wouldn’t be penalized, then married him 2 months after we divorced…..and now I pay her and him over $1,000 in child support because she doesn’t work. Don’t always assume the woman is the innocent one.
Actually, you don’t pay them. You pay for your children. I was in an accident that left me hospitalized for a year. My ex took our boys during that time. He soon found out that paying child support was less expensive and a whole lot easier than raising 2 boys, 24/7, on your own. He found out about lhaving to leave work to pick them up, carpool, get them to practice etc. He learned about trips to the Doctor in the middle of a work day. He learned about preparing 3 meals a day anddoing huge amounts of laundry. By the time I was well again, he gladly paid that support!
My husband has 3 kids with his ex. She got caught cheating and took off. Called my husband to pick up her truck but never for her kids. Here we are 3 years later and now she wants to act like a mother. She gets them 3 weekends a month and in the summer so it’s considered 35/65 percent (65 with us). He took her to court for child support and because she’s a dumb ass doesn’t make that much money so she was ordered to pay $250.00 a month. She’s only made 3 payments of $65.00 each so $65.00 per month and now she’s taking him back to court because she wants him to show paystubs, w-2’s and tax returns for the past 2 years! She wants him to pay her for the 35% they are with her or to at least get her amount reduced! My husband makes 3 times her income. Can she really do that? Can she actually win??
Ok now how about we flip the script. I was married for 14 years and my ex decided to leave me for my best friend. I’m glad she choose him because if I were to pass away he would have been the guy that I would’ve wanted to help raise my five kids. She told me that she only married me because it made her parents happy ok great so the last fourteen years where a lie. Any ways I pay so much in child support that I can’t pay all my bills let alone afford to rent a place to live and I have the oldest of five living with me. When the kids are with me I can support them with three hundred dollars a month for food clothes for the year an additional 60 a month it’s exactly the same as it was when we where married. Ok so how does punishing me for her leaving mind you I gave her the house also I pay over 1500 a month equal fairness not to mention between her and her boyfriend average over six thousand dollars a month in a joint bank account not including my cs plus all the bills from when we were married that I’m now filing bankruptcy on. I can’t even keep up on cs so I also get punished because in order to support a second family they have to starve even though she has a job of her own we don’t live nearly as wealthy as they do. So in other words in order for me to live a happy life like my ex I need to find someone with equal number of kids with the same child support income as me to offset my fine. Sounds like I’d be the gold digger I say cs is the biggest crock I have to pay 18000 dollars a year so I can spend 60 days with them tell me that’s fair that’s 300 dollars a day for my time with them. I believe in supporting my kids one hundred percent but the courts should take into account everything bills on both sides and the fact the children don’t need fashion designer clothes or three hundred dollar shoes. Or steak and potatoes for every meal. Boy I wish I could afford a steak let alone find a women that would enjoy struggling and not being able to start a family of our own for the next thirteen years.
I feel so sorry for you Tim. I really hate the way the system is.
Stupid question but will it help if you notify the courts of her and boyfriends income?
Maybe they have to show bank statements or check stubs?
Most states do not take in account the BF or new Husband wages into account.
Tim,
My husband is in the same boat as you. He paid $20,652 per year for 7 years. His ex finally got a job and claims she’s not making a lot, even though I tend to disagree but fortunately we were able to get it dropped to $12,216. We have 2 more years until the oldest turns 18 – thank the lord – and another 7 years before the next one turns 18. They have bought a house, and remodeled it inside and out. We are still renting 7 years later. They both have relatively newer vehicles than we do. We don’t take the kids on any trips anymore because we can’t afford to. Hopefully I can get started with work soon and help support on all the bills. If we could NOT pay child support, but often see the children, like every weekend (that we already do), everyone’s life would be much better off. Kids would get gifts randomly, new clothes, new shoes, money for the mall, etc. But because we do and clearly the money does not go to the kids at all, we’re stuck with one stressed out and mostly bored on the weekends household.
Nice assumption. My fiance was deployed to a combat zone when his then-wife moved another man into his house, wrecked his truck, and then drained his bank account and took off with his children when he found out she was sleeping with someone else.
He fought for and won visitation, but she moves quite a bit and won’t give him their address. She rarely answers the phone. He has almost no relationship with his kids because of her, and the state does nothing to enforce their visits.
We send this woman a huge chunk of change every month. She quit her job to pop out several more babies by one of the dudes she cheated on him with, so we’re subsidizing his children with our money, too. Awesome system, right?
We’re waiting till his kids are adults to get married, because I don’t want my money getting into her hands. There are women out there who don’t give a rat’s ass about their marriages or the best thing for their kids, and it’s incredibly unfair to punish the men they’ve screwed over for the wife’s misdeeds. Dad isn’t always the one who ruined his relationship.
Why the automatic assumption that the guy is the dead beat or the one who “ruined” the marriage? Maybe she’s the trifling one who made it end. I have a child of my own who is in daycare and I can assure you it doesn’t cost $1800/mo to raise my 16 month old.
As for housing, any stable adult should be living in a home of their own with kids or not. So, the man should’ve required to pay the difference between what a studio or one bedroom costs vs a two or three bedroom, whatever is necessary. And then, he should only have to pay half of that difference because that’s his half of the increase. There are tons of trifling women out there with multiple kids by multiple men who are only gaming the system. Maybe we should start sterilizing some of these hussies.
A bimbo? My husband and his wife ended the marriage way before I came on board. My husbands exwife is psychotic. She’s has pictures of us and shows them to anyone who will listen and feel sorry for her.
Did you ever consider maybe it was the ex wife’s fault that the marriage ended in divorce?? The husband could have a new wife now and children that his income also is providing for. Also some women are out to destroy their exs financially. The child support laws are screwed up!
First of all lets stop calling custodial women single parents. My mother never took a cent from my father. He was a true piece of s–t! Rarely showed his face. She did it all herself… And she still doesn’t call herself a single parent!
Answer these questions… What happens to a family when times get hard (and for many living in poverty is lifelong)? Do they have to cut back on spending. Do they find other ways of supporting our acquiring the better things in life? Do they simply have to tell their children and themselves no, at times? When times are good what happen? Do all in the family benefit?
What about the fact that the self-pitied-single-mother never had to miss a beat financially because of court mandated income to her while the father works every waking hour, hours that should be spent with his child/ren while the mother benefits not from just the c.s. But their own income as well as the income of their new spouse. Oh and gets to share in the children’s every inch of growth.
Most are hard pressed to belive that money solves everything and that love takes a back seat in child rearing. Tell That to half of Americans that lost their father due to oppressive legal action. A man can only take so much.
You ever hear of the statistics of father’s who stop paying or seeing? I’ve struggled to not be one of those statistics. It only gets harder. And my bonds with my children have become loosened.
…Might want to rethink your stance on believing the courts have the best interest of the child in mind. I believe if parents can’t figure it out on their own, well then let nature take its course. If “he” don’t show or pay, f–k him. But if he is willing to be repaints, let him. Don’t make him. Remember it took the both of them to make the child. Both parties will have to soul search and gave what they did wrong, not place the blame on the man. The system places blame on the man as soon as separation is a thought.
I was working 40+, managing 10 rentals (took kids with me a lot, made it fun for them), cleaning, taking kids to and from school, coming home and cooking for everyone, eating at the dinner table while mom sits on the couch, with a plate, on the phone, in front of the television exactly how she spent most of her time. Then bathed children put them to sleep. And then went to my bedroom, climbed over a mountain of clothes knocked the debris of my bed and tried to get rest. But at least my kids got to see me. We had strong bonds, my babies and I.
I also helped support her first born from a previous including health insurance, who by the way she had no court mandates on at all! I loved him and bonded with him too. Now she is on her fourth child from a new unwed relationship trying to prove to our children god knows what. And miserable as hell.
But now it’s all about money and “I’m the custodian” and “I’m a single mother”, “do as I say” “love them as I say”. Give me a break!
All I Want is to parent my children without a court telling me how to do it. Period!
Men make this pledge and pass it on to other men and your children: “I will never give a woman the time of day if she has EVER taken court mandated child support from a father”. And teach them that when they think of marrying, child support enforcement could very well be a fact of life if it were to fail. And also give failed marriage statistics to key them know what they could be getting into.
For the original question, do what you have to. A free man acts as a free man even when he knows there may be repercussions.
“Don’t tread on me”!
$900 per child sounds fair to you? 30% of income per child sounds fair to you? Let’s consider:
Daycare -The non/ custodial parent was likely a single parent for part or most of her children’s lives, which means he was probably unable to stay home with HIS children. Monthly daycare costs are astronomical and surpass average rental costs in most parts of the country. Think of what rent for a two-three bedroom house or apartment costs and double it because a father should be entitled to the same living standard and equal parenting time as the mother. There is no scientific proof that a mother is more fit than a mother.
Housing – A custodial parent and her new spouse (or no spouse) can live in a studio apartment if they really need to for a short time (because why should a non-custodial father have to live in a studio apartment but you not feel as if a mother should have to?). It IS the same case for the custodial parent but there shouldn’t be a custodial parent. BOTH mother and father need a home or apartment big enough for three people as EQUAL parenting time is truly in the best interest of the childre. and if THEY are planning to send them to public school, THEY will need to factor in the increased costs associated with renting or owning in a desirable school district. Or THEY need to plan to pay for private school.
Extracurricular activities – why should the children miss out on participating in dance or science camps or sports? Should they have a different childhood than the one originally planned for them when mom was part of a two parent family? These things can add up to several hundreds of dollars per month. ** Again- you keep giving Mom all of the decision making rights as if Mom is more fit. You are clearly sexist and hold mom to a higher standard based off gender. Dad was also apart of a two parent home and Mom could get married at any point in time. For all we know, mom could be in a serious relationship for a longer length of time than dad but refused to get married to reap the benefits of state funded programs! Happens all the time! But you’re assuming and being sexist that mom is a poor single mother who needs all the help she can get while dad just ran off with the first woman he met. Typical.
After school care – If the custodial parent works, chances are she’s paying a person or organization to make sure the kids are safe after school. Schools let out around three. Most jobs don’t. Let me correct you again, there shouldn’t be a custodial parent- its shares parent. Equal 50/50. Neither parent gets off at 5. Or if one does, they work within both of their schedules!
College- The writer of this letter asks if they should just wait thirteen years – until their child support obligations end when the youngest turns 18. This is a strong indication that dad and stepmom feel no obligation to support the kids through college. If there is extra money from child support, than the custodial parent may be squirreling that away for college costs. We all know how much college costs. A lot of people fell it’s not an obligation to pay for college, but I know I wouldn’t want my daughter to graduate with crippling debt. ** The letter absolutely does NOT indicate it. The letter indicates that the fathers obligation is HIGHER than the mothers- which is almost always the case. If you do research on the matter , fathers child support obligations are higher than mothers in almost every single case. Custodial parents typically pay less. In almost every case, non custodial parents pay child support on top of a matched percentage of daycare (which you pointed custodial parents must pay for which is typically false but not always).
It’s not fair for us to pass judgement on the custodial parent. Kids ARE expensive, especially without the benefit of a two person family where there are either two incomes or one person who can provide free childcare and meal planning services.
You are clearly a very bitter single mother. Let me ask you, if the tables were turned, would you be able to live without your child/ren for only 4 days or 2 months of the year? Would you be able to go weeks /months without seeing your child/ren? Would you be able to afford paying 30-60% of your income to your ex and still be able to provide for yourself and possible a new family? Would you be able to get another job because a judge told it wasn’t his problem? Would you be able to NOT become frustrated? Would you be able to not become heartbroken when a power hungry ex dangled your children in front of you and used them as a paycheck and was never satisfied with the amount of money they received as support? Would you be able to be happy if your ex didn’t allow you to see your children just because their gender is seen as superior in family courts?
I’m sure you won’t answer those questions truthfully though. I’m sure you won’t be one of us women standing at the courthouses with the tens of thousands of men who fight for their parental rights against a biased and unlawful court system or for our children who deserve two fit and loving parents involved in their lives equally both physically and financially, because it’s both of our responsibilities to provide for our children not just the men’s.
Child support laws are made with the interest of the child in mind. It unfortunate that other custodial parents are commenting that their former partner does not provide adequate support, but that shouldn’t equate to these two children deserving less than adequate support in anyone’s minds. Divorce is hard enough for everyone. The children’s standard of living shouldn’t have to take a nose dive on top of it.
@Rachel… I am not going to debate much, because I need to get back to work. But your argument is way off.
My ex has her single-family house paid off (no mortgage), has about $50,000 in savings in the bank. She admitted in her DEPOSITION that she got a job that makes 1/2 of what she could earn because she knew it would affect support. By the way, she refuses to let me have any more visitation with my kids (all i’m asking for is 1 extra day per week). She has the kids in daycare for all of 45 minutes per day (by the way… I now live 5 minutes away from her and I have said that I can take the kids before&after school to alleviate the childcare costs. She says no because “the kids need socialization at daycare & camps.” She figures what the hell… I’m paying 2/3 of the coast anyway so it doesn’t matter to her).
Now that my support just got upped to $1700/month (yes, this includes $700/month in childcare costs that I am 67% responsible for… proportional to our incomes), she now puts away about $1500/month into the bank!!! That is, she has this much left over AFTER all expenses are paid every month. This does not show up on her income reports though because child support is not declared as income!
My cushion at the end of each month is a whopping $150, if that. And I go into the red if she takes the kids to the doctor that month.
So yeah… you just go ahead and try to argue that this a fair situation and that the dads on this board are paying what the deserve to be paying. Go ahead… try to do it.
My husband was totally screwed by his ex-wife. I knew this when I married him but I had no idea how hard it would be to do a modification on our own.
The system is rigged in favor of women and if a man doesn’t have lawyer money, he will pay that woman forever. My husband fell into arrears because of alimony. Months into his divorce, which she initiated, he lost his job. The arrears just kept piling up. Then he was underemployed and even making $100K a year, is still underemployed per the divorce decree, which stipulates a combined payment of $1,776/week.
In that time, one kid has gotten married and the other about to graduate college.
She’s been living with a millionare, drives a lexus, toured every country in europe, and now is a VP in the new company her rich boyfriend launched. She has zero financial concerns. Yet she still takes 55% of my husband’s salary pre-tax, has not removed the married kid from the “payroll” and lets the arrears just keep piling up. She demands 50% of all the college son’s expenses and has dragged us to court when we couldn’t pay. She knows we can’t afford a lawyer. Hell, we can’t even afford a 2nd car. So she always wins.
I don;t make enough money to make up the difference of what she takes from us each week. Her level of greed, and that cold fact that it’s allowed, saps my ambition.
The fact that in 2010, when the divorce took place, that a ridiculous alimony award was handed out to a smart woman with teenagers … it’s over my head.
We’ll be paying her until we’re dead. And we’ll never get a vacation.
But what if the custodial mother doesn’t work and the child is of school age (11) and doesn’t need daycare. Maybe a baby sitter but not full on daycare. Should the father still be paying so much that he can’t provide even half of what is necessary for his new family. The child I speak of has full health benefits, lives in a large comfortable home and father pays for all extracurricular activities. I’m not his wife yet but my boyfriend pays ~50,000 per year to his ex wife who has not worked in ten years. Thoughts?
Yep another one. The children are hard and it’s such a burden. Poor poor kids..if it’s so hard go 50 50 with the dad..then your burden will be 50 percent less. Right. Then suddenly it would be maybe taxes or gas are the problem ..but nah why say that when you can play a poor poor kids game
1) Daycare really, why do you need daycare if you don’t work. if you do work then you also have a responsibility to financially take care of your children.
2) Housing, why is the responsibility of living in a new neighborhood the sole responsibility of the child support payer. If this is a burden, hand the children over to your spouse. You can’t claim a right to the children but not the financial responsibility. Maybe if you let your kids stay with your spouse you can live in a studio and he and his wife can live in the “good” neighborhood (see how that works)
3) Extracurricular activities, again being a mother does not mean you have no financial responsibility to your children.
4)After school care, college: you want good things for your child get a better job so you can contribute more. seems you are claiming rights for your child but no additional financial responsibility on your part (rights without responsibilities, the new American way). I am yet to see one child support recipient put money away for their child college, at least no meaningful amount of money.
No 2 children is what was stated. ..
60% of paycheck would be assessed only if he is in arrears, & thus has an arrears payment added on, or if he has more than one source of income & there is garnishment only from one source.
Really? Is that so? Ok well I’m in both situations. My husband had an ex wife who drinks everyday had her own cleaning business and photography business, rips oft the system every chance she gets and yet child support WON’T investigate her earnings. I on the other hand have a child in my care and a court order to say so yet his narcassistic father refused to return him and he refuses to come home hitting me for full child support a fast before he planned to just take him froM school. Yes there are dead beat dad’s out the majority of dad’s just want to survive each day financially. Don’t judge unless you’re in the situation!!!the system is all for the women and they dint give a crap about dad’s! !as for Australian family Court system ,well what an absolute joke that is as well. And if you knew these two people that continue to be financially destructive towards our happiness and well being you wouldn’t be judging! My husband’s ex wife slept with his best mate and everyone else in town then moved the boys to a place she thought would be better. .huh she moved because the gf of the best mate she screwed wants to smash her face in because she was the reason the gf committed suicide.
I may as well put in my two cents. It is the responsibility of the father to help .Yes, but what about paying 60% it’s Ludacris. We pay it also … and that’s fine thy r his children. But what about BOTH PARENTS WORKING TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN . I see that as fair. She doesn’t work, but o yes she has a photography business but forgot that she failed to claim or mention to the child support agency!! That’s ok c/s doesn’t care I bet irs will tho! / some mothers want to make their exs lives MISERABLE!! KEEP IN MIND I’M AN EX WIFE ALSO. Do I put him through this …..NO ABSOLUTELY NOT! Also keep in mind my husband left his ex after she cheated 3x so HE DID TRY!! Misery loves company ppl and while many exs are not like this MOST ARE AND IT’S SAD BC WHAT ABOUT THE DADS RETIREMENT life ect just bc thy had kids w someone who DID NOT WORK OUT DOESN’T MEAN THEY SHOULD SUFFER!! GET OFF YOUR FAT ASS GET A JOB AND QUIT LYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE U MAKE LESS .JS
You’re full $hit Ashley. There are more dead beat mom’s then there are dead beat dad’s.. Proven by state wide CS.in my opinion yes a father should pay childsupport until there children are 18. But after that it’s the 18 year olds job to help pay for college. No more childsupport… Eighteen year olds are old.enough to get a job and learn about life. And the mom or father’s job to learn to deal without the extra paychecks… That’s why my husband and I don’t share any accounts. We don’t even claim taxe together. This is all legal. So how if you must check the internet…. If you must. P.s in the state I live in if a woman on purposely gets pregnant, and the be or ex hubby is able to prove it with a Dr’s letter proven the discontinued birth control or recording. Then the ex does not have to pay one cent forwards that child by state law.
What state is that?
The full of shit state
That is the funniest thing I read all night. I laughed out loud and needed it too!
My deadbeat ex-wife doesn’t pay any part of the child support calculation because she was cheating and moved in with the guy 2 months after the divorce, then stopped working because she had me and him supporting her. This is a woman with two college degrees.
Don’t matter what dead beat dads don’t pay. They don’t get screwed. The honest ones paying get screwed. The ones that show up in court get screwed. My husbands ex has 4 kids only one is his. She earns $4600 a month he earns $1300 a month he pays $200 child support. She gets child support from two other guys for the other two kids. All four have different daddies. So imma tell you this: you don’t know shit. Just because you don’t believe single mothers don’t always do that doesn’t mean that they don’t its just your belief.
Income babies! Some women just have them to earn them money believe me I know a few who openly admit it! Sick society!
So it costs $3,600 a month to raise a child? Put down the crack pipe Ashlee!
Lol, this response is ridiculous. Typical stereotype assuming that there are too many “deadbeat” dads. Use your brain and analyze how the judicial system puts them in an impeccable bind. How can you possibly raise your children in a loving manner if your faced with homelessness due to the greedy capitalistic society that wants to starve fathers, who would otherwise be successful components to the world and most importantly their children.
You sound like a bitter ex, you are a disgrace to humans if you think it’s fair what they do to father’s.
first let me say in ny i pay 24 percent for my 2 kids and that 24 comes out to be almost 500 a week…i know being a father does not end with the child support, but damm come on i cant afford a place with what i am left with and the reason there are so many dead beat dads is just that…..we cant afford to live…and we need to live too, or is it because u are a woman and that is why you answer the way you do….because i am no dead beat dad, just a broke one because of the system in place…
Ashlee you sound like the one that’s brain dead I don’t even have to pay child support but I can plainly see how unfair it is. I have seen plenty of women that do t even work make more than me because they just live off there kids and use them like paychecks.its the cold hard truth child support is so high be cause the government is going to make sure you pay outrages amounts so the dead beat mom that doesn’t want to get a job doesn’t ask them for money. And it is your choice to baby your kid after they turned 18 just because you want to baby them until there 40 doesn’t mean the other parent should have to pay. Ashlee if you have done your job as the custodial guardian and raised your child to be a self sufficient member of society you wouldn’t have to pay for them for the rest of your life I had a job since I was 16 never asked my parents for a dime.
I just think about it like this…my husband pays 900 a month for his children and she wants more. His ex is lazy and his kids always look homeless when they visit. We can’t even buy them nice things for birthdays or Christmas because they always end up in the pawn shops. She has a new husband who doesn’t work and lives off of my husband. But one say…one day when those kids are 18, my husband and I am will still have careers and retirement plans and she’ll have to kill herself because she won’t be able to live off of section 8, food stamps and child support anymore.
You say kids….so you think a family of 4 is living off $900 a month? My 2 kids daycare is more than $900 a month & that’s the average rate. Grow up
Absolutely I do when she recieves full food stamps and only owes 55 dollars in rent and doesn’t work. Nor does her husband. Deadbeats live off of welfare checks. What makes you think they can’t live of of 900 a month.
Wow. You must be a blood sucking ex wife. I’d never say that about the system. I think my ex husband had to pay too much and insisted it be dropped so he could afford to live
Sorry, I completely disagree with your statement as it relates to my family: $2,700 + $400 for child care + 50% medical expenses and those are just the monthly costs not counting extras she’s taken him to court for – or the fact she could remarry and have technically a third income in her household mix. Or the fact that while they live with us this summer he has been ordered to pay 100% child care while sending child support to her (where’s his child support for covering the girls’ living costs while they stay with us?). elementary age girls don’t cost that much. We actually looked at a table of how much a child costs and found my boyfriend is paying 100% of their cost. Where’s her share? And by the way she’s a nurse. She also was dishonest about the second child’s conception and asked for the divorce herself. The system meant to protect children and the custodial parent is legalized theft in our household.
ya know, not every dad that pays child support is a dead beat. my fiance see his daughter as often as he can, mostly everyday after work, he pays $500 a month while we cant even afford groceries, a place to live, barely gas. im sorry but it does not cost 500 dollars a month to raise a kid. and his ex doesnt even work, shes a lazy piece of shit and she relies on my fiances $ to keep her up too, thats bullshit!
Wait? It doesn’t cost $500 a month to raise a child? You understand that housing is an expense?
No, it doesn’t. I don’t have kids and am still expected to keep the lights on and pay my utilities. Idiot.
Sorry, you just have no idea what it costs to raise a kid. Health insurance, doctor visits when they’re sick, seeing a dentist a couple of times a year like they should, daycare or afterschool care or just maybe a dance class, food, clothes, a good safe place to live, driving them where they need to go–yeah, it costs more than $500 a month to raise a kid. I mean, it costs more than that for just daycare alone. I’m sorry for the ways your situation is hard, but kids do deserve to have what they need. Just the basic stuff. Which does actually come to more than $500 a month most months.
Well you get the cake and eat it too. That’s what I always say
My fiance is hit with over $2k a month in child support AND has to pay half of unreimbursed medical expenses, educational expenses and day care on top of that. By the time it’s all over he pays his ex more than I take home. The kicker? SHE MAKES MORE THAN I DO, and that’s before we consider that she can claim the kids on taxes, etc.
So we’re supposed to just assume it takes $4k a month to feed, house and clothe kids, right? If they’re paying the expenses equally? Sorry, you can’t convince me of that.
When I suggested he start asking for EOBs and receipts on the medical/educational stuff, you’d have thought -I- was the devil. Come to find out, she wasn’t properly filing the kids’ medical insurance so neither one of them owed the money she kept dunning him for! Whenever it did get straightened out and she got a refund she was -keeping- it even though it should have gone 50% back to him.
And yet I was the bad guy here for simply insisting that she gets enough money to play with on her own and that she should have to justify anything extra. Right? Please.
I agree these judges now feel sorry for the dads and are way to sympathetic to them. The women by nature in most cases does more for the children. Also children voices are not heard because they are children and that causes alot of damage and leaves judges in the dark.
Hell ya. I mean look at the hardworking self rellient generation we have now. Thank god for the woman who knows how to raise em..shut if men raised them ..they would love in the house till 30. Play video games and just be….well they just would be how great this generation of kids are
Right….I know more gold digging, cheating wives that automatically get custody and C.S. all because women claim to own a child(inside the womb and out). Most men have spent there entire relationship with said woman, trying to keep their family together and be good Godly husbands and Dads, look at any police deadbeats website….bet you see more “moms”.
Anyone who takes money she doesn’t earn from someone who has no choice is a leech and theif, and should be thrown in prison and drug tested for as long as they receive leech-support. This, coming from a woman: WOMAN UP
A lot of women use kids to bleed ex hubbies. I know one who abused her hubby for 20 years. Bankrupted him. Now gets 16 k per month and all she does is do awful plastic surgery on her face and body. Everytime he sees her in court she looks different
My thoughts exactly. I’m about to go to court again trying for 50/50. And just landed an awesome passing job. Way better than my last but now I’m afraid I’m gonna take a huge hit for cs. But what I was giving before was half my check. Why keep increasing what I have to pay? Because we all know that a cs payment of 550 a month is not all used for the child. So because she can’t get a good job but I can I’m made to suffer, and put my current family in financial crisis? I’m not allowed to move on either?
Nope, you are not allowed to move on and any women who fall in love with you are not allowed to have a child wish and are doomed – doomed for love and doomed for sticking it out while the ex is whining she has a hard time WITH the support not ever thinking how hard it must be not only NOT getting support but paying it out while at the same time having also a family.
But the custodial parent qualifies for all kinds of government help because of the kids she(or sometimes he) can get quite a bit on foodstamps, can get child tax credits and earned income tax refunds – that can amount to over 10k/year and no taxes have to be claimed on the child support received. There is programs for free daycare for low income parents or for working parents so the daycare cost are not necessarily that high if at all present, food on a kid can be paid by the government including also the WIC programs, clothing -there is a lot of cheap second hand around, formula can be paid by WIC, medical can be covered in full by Medicaid. So to say a child costs that much is crazy. The courts tell the non custodial that they can live of 600$ per month but one child 50% share at 600$ is too low for the child to live, a child which does not need a car or pay for gas. And there is no oversight if the custodial even uses the money for the kids- she might just use it to have more kids and qualify for more deductions and get income from a new husband but that does not matter to the courts they still see her as the victim (even if the custodial left the non-custodial) and the second wife has no right to have money for her kids no matter how long she waited to have her kids but then the second wife does often not qualify for some programs since the child support paid out is still calculated as household income even if the 2nd family never sees a penny of that since it is deducted after TAXES right out of the paycheck and for the automatic deduction there is also a fee charged and the deduction comes out no matter if there is a slow week or 10 slow weeks and if you want to modify the lawyers want 2500-5000$. And still the exes kids think that the non-custodial does nothing for them cause he cant afford to buy them DIRECTLY presents since so much support is taken out.
You’ve just described our situation exactly… There are more deadbeat moms out there than people realize.
This is where the entitlement generation comes from.
Child support is made for money hungry women. And come to find out if the man remarries and have other kids those new kids don’t get counted. Which is bull shit that is saying the first kids are the only ones that matters. That just makes women not want to deal with a man who is on child support. And before you money hungry women start complaining about my comments. I have 3 kids get no child support and yes my husband is on child support for two other kids and all his money gets taken. And no I should not have to pay for kids that aren’t mine. And if I ever get a divorce I would never expect the next women to take care of my kids. I feel bad for the guys who get screwed because of child support. The system gives everything to women and leaves the man shit out of luck. And of course for the second women who gives the man a chance gets screwed too. It’s ridiculous then the women getting support wants more. We pay full bills go without so my kids have the stuff they need but my husband’s ex gets to buy all the new cell phones get her hair and nails done buy brand name clothes and oh by the way gets everything the government has to offer. While we can’t get any help and lose more money. And to the women who said this lady married into it you are dead wrong. You’re basically saying she has to get a second job for them to have money no she should not have to do that. The ex wife nerds to own up for her own kids just like I do.
so what if the man is not helping with the first 2 that he had? what should the mother do? should she wait for him to pay?
She has the prize. Why is that the burden ? Most men don’t even get support from the women. When my brother got a divorce he had to pay 1200 plus maintenence. But when the boys got older and he got custody. And he is happy with no support cause he has the boys. He got the prize.
I agree with you, in the sense that what the child support is at the time of marriage breakdown should be, what it is. So now, I take it upon myself to study, further my career and make more money, why should she have her hands on that hard work? I get my kids 38% of the time. The CS guidelines basically leaves me scratching the bottom of my car for change to feed them, clothe them and entertain them a bit. I mean, I just bought a 9 year old car (an upgrade) in order to keep them safe on the roads and had to beg my bank to make it into a 4 year loan so I can afford payments on it. Im left with nothing! All because she cheated and I decided to leave the marriage. Seems unfair, especially for the men who love their kids and try and spend as much time with them as possible and Pay their exes without question. Now, the other side of the coin is the fact that CS is so much because the children need to keep the same lifestyle as they did before the marriage breakdown. My children DONOT cost $1795/month, but it might for the ex to keep her fancy car and nice house and keep her happy…for the kids sake.
WELL SAID, EDDIE!
Tea, your post is very informative, however if they remain married (even with separate accounts) it has been documented that the income is there and available. The judge might view this as “hiding” the income and come down even harder at the next hearing. It’s always been suggested to me that you file for divorce (again, on paper) and “rent” from your new ex-wife. A judge who has a heart will not enforce those payments as some states have a clause about “financial hardships”. Either way, this is a good lesson; ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS sign a prenup. In that prenup you need to stipulate n% for each child and 0% (ZERO) for spousal support. I’ve seen bitter ex-wives living off their ex-husbands support for decades while not even lifting a finger to look for a job. “It’s what I am accustomed to, so therefore he has to pay for it”, meanwhile the ex-husband is living in a trailer park.
Prenups aren’t worth anything if you have a vindictive, entitled ex-wife.
The first post was good advice. Legally divorce the current wife. As far as the court and state is concerned you’ll be divorced and the payment should go down. It would be better if you had children with her, then divorced so you’d pay your current wife child support too. As for the legal divorce; man cannot separate what God has put together. You aren’t really divorced, just under color of law in the judicial system.
When it comes to child support no man out there is going to win. Not to bad mouth all women, but they own you when you have a child with them. Ive seen many a friend go through the same situation time after time. Today many of young men are saying no to marriage and is there any wonder why. Marriage is nothing but a legal document that is signed by both parties so legally the man is agreeing to give up control of his life to his wife and kids. This day and time any man decides to get married pre-nup or conventional marriage pardon me , but HE HAS GOT TO BE TOTALLY ILL INFORMED OR JUST A COMPLETE IDIOT. There is a huge number of men that are deciding to not get married. Marriage is for women only, when are men going to take their set of jewels back and own them for himself. Today most all marriages that are made and then when the divorce comes it is filed by their wives . They cannot come out on the bad end of the deal. There is no such thing as commitment anymore from anyone. All of you know that if the man in the marriage is unhappy WHO HAS TO PAY of course HE DOES and likewise if the woman in the marriage is unhappy WHO HAS TO PAY of course HE DOES. Marriage doesnt mean equal commitment. Im warning anyone not to do it. Ive studied psychology for many years and there is a much larger pool of women than in the older days that are just not marriage material anymore. Even today when you look at it who is complaining about men not wanting to get married anymore. ITS THE WOMEN. Women can change as fast as a heartbeat. They are always looking for the better deal for themselves, and who has the upper hand . They do!!!!!! I’m warning you again not to get married, keep your sanity and your strength and dont do it.
Just wanting to point out the fact that once you have a child with someone if you are not with that person you should be paying child support if you don’t have full custody regardless of marriage. I’m not saying what amount, but your reasoning behind not getting married is pointless if you have a child anyway. Also your theory doesn’t work if you live somewhere that common law marriage is legal and most states require that in order for the ex-spouse to receive alimony they must have not had a job for X number of years straight. I believe in Texas it’s between 7 and 10, can’t quite remember.
Can you spell bitter?
David is 100% correct.
Google: MGTOW
I’m one of them.
Do your research. David knows it, I know it, it’s time you do too. We have nothing to gain by telling you this. We just don’t want others to make the same mistakes.
Any man who says marriage is ‘no good for them’ should NEVER marry, SIMPLE!
AND don’t think you can ‘afford’ kids either – on what ground…? You want a woman, to love you, fully commit to you, support you emotionally and otherwise, and bear your children – while in return you want to remain FREE and UNATTACHED!!
Free from legal marriage –
Free from legal obligation what comes with it –
Yet, willing to have ALL the benefits what normally ”marriage’ offers ..!
Ain’t it little too cheeky..?
Sorry, but no self respecting woman, smart woman who understands that life is life and precautions must be taken in ALL things, will ever want to get involved with you..!
The contract of marriage is a legal form of protection, as you NEVER can predict how things will turn out, and legal system stands behind a woman (or any custodial parent) she is the one who takes on the most of work load on when it comes to children…
As a woman going through a difficult custody battle and not seeing a dime of child support in the meantime (even though I am under-employed for the sole purpose of caring for the children), I am going advise the following.
1. Let go of your resentment. It’s not hurting anybody but yourself.
2. Make a budget and stick to it.
3. When the child support payments increase, re-do the budget.
You husband made a commitment to his first wife and an even bigger commitment when they had children. He is obligated to care for them. End of story. Like you said, you knew this when you married him. You might not be able to have everything you want right now, but the most important thing is to make a budget according to how you ARE able to live. There’s no point in fantasizing about “if only he didn’t have to pay child support we could live a much better lifestyle” because what you are really saying is “if only he didn’t have kids.”
I’m sorry to sound harsh, but I think you’ll be much more successful in dealing with your situation if you accept its reality and stop looking for ways around it.
I am FLAT BROKE, but it is what it is. I stick to my budget and I don’t complain.
crankymommy…the name fits…you are probably just another one of those “WOMEN” looking for a damn hand out. If yall can’t afford to live or maintain and need more money from us, why don’t you just be an adult and give us the kids. We are just as capable of parenting as yall are. And his x wife always readjusting thats bs, if she wants to put them in stuff she should figure out a way to pay for the classes, not take him to court for more money…Now tell me who’s working the system now. WOMEN!!! You all know how to manipulate the system. Its disgusting that yall get so much why don’t yall just work more.
Now, wait a minute, please don’t lump all women in the same category. Four years ago, I lowered my ex’s child support on my own from $750/month to $250/month, because he came to me like a sensible human being after trying to pay it for a few months and he was having to pick and choose what bills to pay and his house payment was one of them. We sat down and looked at his bills, which he brought with him, to include his bank account so that I wouldn’t think he was lying and showed me where his paycheck was going in and only bills were coming out. We matched them to his statements that he brought from his bills. I had to be that strict with him in order to agree to lower it, because he has lied to me many times in the past and was getting large bonuses from his previous job and wasn’t reporting it. However, with his new job, he didn’t get any bonuses and there was no unreported income. We drafted up our own agreement, based on what he could truly afford, which had absolutely nothing to do with my income, which was only $1000/month at the time. I worked with him and it was an agreement that I was okay with, because it was based on honesty. Now, I know a lot of exes can’t work together like that, because there is resentment from the divorce, but it’s truly best to work things out than to go back to the judge all of the time. He has since dropped out of my son’s life, because he has a new wife and she has two kids of her own, but I chose to leave the child support the way it has been, because he still has the same job and his new wife works to support her kids as their dad has passed away.
HOWEVER: There are some women that are extremely greedy. My husband’s ex wife is blaming my husband for the military giving him orders to move from Michigan to Texas. She thinks it was a choice, which it was not. He tried everything he could to stay and it just wasn’t in the cards. They only have one child together. Before we moved, we had his son every other week, they have joint custody, and they make the same amount of money. Though he was told by a judge that he didn’t have to pay any child support, because we payed for the daycare and all expenses on our own week, paid half for any extracurricular activities, and carried the health insurance for him and paid for the dental insurance, my husband still decided to pay money to go into a 529 account in his ex wife’s name so that his son would have money towards college. When he moved down to Texas, she got angry and went to court to raise his child support, child care, etc even though we offered to send her money for half of the child care, half of the extracurricular activities, and half of anything else she would need for him. That wasn’t enough for her. She took us to court and was awarded $950 and we all of a sudden owed $4000 in back child support while waiting for a court date. We have two kids together and we don’t make a whole lot of money, but it seems a bit ridiculous that even though we still have him 106 days of court ordered time (we actually ended up having him 136 total, because she let him come early or stay longer so she didn’t have to pay child care those extra days). A temporary order was put in place back in February 2013 until our objections can be heard, which her lawyer keeps getting permission to delay the court hearing, maybe he and the judge are buddies, who knows. Anyways, after 8 months of paying that large amount plus back child support that magically showed up, our house in Michigan (which we were unable to sell before we moved and our renters that were there left in June after 6 months, because they were soldiers and had to move as well) is going into foreclosure, we are now behind on our vehicle payment by a couple of months, we haven’t been able to pay the credit cards since April, our vehicle insurance was cancelled for non-payment and then we had to decide to pay that bill instead of others, because you can’t drive without it. We are rationing out milk to our two little ones, who are 3 and 4, because we can’t afford it. I can’t even work, because we would be using all of that money to pay for daycare, because it’s so expensive down here. We went to the state to try to get help temporarily until our objections are heard, but they go by his income before deductions and child support doesn’t count as an allowable deduction. Our 3 year old needs a $232 dental procedure done, but we can’t afford that either. We have also gone to her and tried to be civil and come to an agreement, but she won’t even hear it. When my husband was gone to Iraq, she agreed to allow us to pay $200 on top of the amount we paid for the 529 account, and I took him every other week still to offset her daycare (though I ended up with him more because she’s an alcoholic and likes the bars and partying, plus she got a new boyfriend and was spending nights there). Now, we move to Texas, not by choice might I add, and she’s punishing us for it. She is the type of person that is greedy and causes divorced parents to be in and out of court constantly and ends up ultimately punishing her own child, because when he was with us all summer, we couldn’t do one thing as a family or go to one event, because we literally were down to allowing the kids one glass of milk per day, no seconds at meals, etc. It’s just getting worse and worse. Our court hearing is on Tuesday next week, hopefully we get some relief and no delay.
I am not trying to get out of paying child support, by all means, but there is a line between reasonable and unreasonable. If the child is supposed to enjoy the same standard of living as when they were married, then why is she living high on the hog while we are rationing milk to our kids?!! The system is truly flawed and you don’t see it truly unless you can see both sides of the fence, like in the situation with my ex compared to my husband’s ex. The system is flawed in that, even though it would be great if the child could truly enjoy the same standard of living as when his or her parents were married, that’s not feasible. There are now to separate incomes, houses, expenses, bills…double everything. It doesn’t leave room for you to move on, be happy, start a new family, and still include your child from your ex as though they never go back and forth. The system says that child support and visitation is separate and that the two don’t inter-mingle, but that’s not the way that greedy parents look at it. They look at it as though your love for your child directly relates to the amount child support you pay, which is the furthest from the truth. They allow these greedy parents to continue to operate this way and never reprimand them for it and that’s why they continue to do it and get away with it. However, there are deadbeats that don’t pay at all, even though they are ordered to, which directly relates to why fathers ultimately get shafted, unfortunately. It is a catch 22 all the way around for the parent that makes even a minute amount more, my husband and his ex are literally $127 difference in what he makes a month compared to what she makes a month.
SO, before I got all long-winded, which I apologize for, I was saying that you can’t lump ALL women in the manipulation and playing the systems category. It simply isn’t true. There are just as many manipulative women as there are deadbeat dads, unfortunately, it’s the ones that are actually doing the most for their children that get screwed because of those that mess up.
lol…NAWALT….not all women are like that. If I had a dollar everytime I heard a woman say that…lol
@ Raul…..you are being completely repulsive to crankymommy and quite frankly very bittter.
Both situations apply to me here.
#1 – I am a second wife, my husband has two children from a previous marriage. I completely agree with crankymomm, I married my husband and his children. I am happy to help support these children through thick and thin. A second wife must always understand the situation that she is marrying into, and that’s that your husband has a responsibility to his children first and foremost.
#2 – In the last year my husband has become the sole legal and physical custodian for both children. This essentially means that now their mother has a financial responsibility to help support her children. She has yet to pay one cent, barely has any visitation time with them, and now we are 100% financially responsible.
Raul – I agree that often men seem to be mistreated both from not gaining custody to having to be more finanically responsible. However, in our home state whoever makes more money is more financially responsible for the care of the children. In our case that means my husband, whether he has custody of the children or not. However here is a concept…..he is happy to do it! They are his children! He cares more about them than being bitter about money related to taking care of them.
Over the past 9 years that means he and I have made many sacrifices, but that is what you do for your children! It’s not about manipulating a system! And if one parent works more than who is watching your children?! They need constant parenting and a healthy enviornment. If you want you kids and are capable as you indicate in your post, than go file for more custody! Prove to the courts that the children should be in your care because it is in their best interest. But really money should have nothing to do about what is in the best interest of your children.
Bottom line – think about who you are marrying and having children with! You both chose a divorce and therefore you are in this situation, stop playing the victim role and just be a great parent who provides emotionally and financially.
For the woman who posted this question originally and all other wife #2’s. Focus most on raising these children the best you can, enjoy the moments while they are here. Soon enough the children will grow up and move on. You won’t have to “pay for them forever”, focus most on their emotionally stability right now. In a few years you all can take more vacations and have more money. For now put your head down and focus on what’s really important, the children!
Right on, sister!
Your statements may apply to some, but definitely not all. Divorce is. 85% 1 sided. Both parents rarely agree to a divorce. 80% of the time the wife initiates the divorce. Most states are no fault, and the wife goes down and applies for the divorce and be awarded custody over 90% of the time because she supposedly interacted with the children more because the husband is out working, busting his but to support the family he loves. In my case my wife commits adultery, and files for divorce after I find out about it. Was I mad? Yes! Have I ever hit her? Never. She files an injunction on me after I leave the state and gives a fake address where I live. So the injunction becomes active on me. Through routine check my employer informs me and I go down to Florida to contest it. I’m granted a hearing and she goes to the courthouse and requests the injunction get dropped be caused it was based on a lie. I’m paying her 62% of my income as child support and spousal support and we still aren’t even divorced. I have a short every month of $400 and my lawyer could care less. I’ve gone through 2 lawyers and they are no help because they take on more clients then they can handle screwing over fathers and their rights that are being violated. My children? I haven’t seen then for the last year becaus my wife has been alienating me with them. They fear me, not because of anything I’ve done to them or her, but because of what my wife has done. I have no contact with them at all. I love my children dearly. Through joint friends I have been told that in that year, my oldest has raped a 6 yo, 2nd oldest has been arrested 2 times for arsen, and 3rd oldest has been expelled from school for fighting. I am heartbroken and cry every night because I am being denied access to my children. My lawyer could care less just like the last one. My wife is laughing at the state of Florida and I am devastated, going bankrupt and will lose my job because it requires a security clearance. Financial problems will remove my clearance. If I loose my job, I will not be able to afford to make my payments… I just learned that my oldest could be molesting my 2 younger children… My lawyer? Where are you and why are you not on my side? Now I will be labeled as a deadbeat dad who doesn’t care enough about his children to make his child support payments… Cost to maintain children when we were happily married? $300. Cost now? $1610. Something isn’t right.
I know the feeling I now must live on and maintain the same level of living that once supported a family of three on half as much. Meanwhile the ex has the kid, doesn’t work because she’s living off the new fiance and in his home. I have no doubts how they paid for there two plus week trip to Europe last Summer! But #yesallwomen you better check #yourmaleprivilege
My husband is going through the same. Ex wife cheated and left for more money, a ton more. Her new husband makes $200K a year and yet she still wants 65% of his income. He can’t even afford the gas in his car to get to work or his insulin (you know, to keep him alive.) She doesn’t work and has a new baby and another on the way. We just went to court and judge said that there’s no way she should have to count any income or take any financial responsibility for their three children because she’s pregnant. Did I mention that she also lied to the court and had his time reduced, no matter how much proof that he brought in. I am also a mother of three from my first marriage. I have NEVER, NEVER committed these acts or behavior to my ex and he is an inconsistent father as far as time is concerned but my kids love him. I have given back his CS at times when he was struggling financially. I choose my kids happiness and well being over money. Too bad more moms (who claim to be good mothers) don’t. Just because you stay home and make lunches doesn’t make you a good mother.
Unfortunately, this is usually the case. The ex-wife initiates the separation and the divorce and the ex-husband pays for it, even if she was the adulterer, SO STUPID. Men, please stop marrying and having children with women who behave this way. You are marrying actresses who manipulate their way into your bed and you get comfortable because she makes you feel like you are the supporter and she wants a family with a dog and picket fence. Amazingly, she wants a family that is not living together. So you get stuck with paying for their life thereafter with her new live in deadbeat boyfriend who has sex, but no financial responsibility to her or your children and you end up paying their rent/mortgage, food, utilities and transportation, or all of the kids needs for up to 18 years, and the children suffers the most because they are now a “purchase agreement” and not a child reared in love. The trashy mother doesn’t contribute to anything the child needs, she calls you. Disgusting.
You have been SUCKERED. Find a woman who is fair, rational, honest, emotionally stable, and who has integrity BEFORE you get married. Marriage changes two things, 1) How much alimony/money you’ll pay after the divorce 2) and her last name to yours for as long as she cares to have it. Men, you are compromising your integrity and the rest of your life with a woman who could be the best thing that has ever happened to you, and all for a woman you thought was someone different. From a woman’s mouth, we don’t change after marriage and babies to be worse wives and mothers, we change to be better wives and mothers. I feel sorry for your situation, however, the marriage and court systems need to change so that couples can live in harmony, without the comfort of knowing that an ex-wife can sit at home, have sex with whomever she wants, ignore the children and receive payments from the ex. I believe that in order to receive alimony or child support, a woman must maintain a certain income after the children are 4. I also believe that child support and alimony should not be paid in cash. It should all be tracked on what is actually being used and where. I also believe that the children should maintain a certain grade in school and have a certain acceptable behavior and upbringing for the custodial parent to remain the custodial parent and receive payments. I believe both parents need to contribute to the financial upbringing of the child, not necessarily 50/50, but when there is no investment, there is no value in the upbringing.
As a Mother of 3 and a step-mother of 2, I am very familiar with both the struggles of being a single mother as well as the devastation of ridiculous CS. My question for you, crankymommy, is at what point did the commitment/obligation to care for the children become solely his? I ask this question honestly as a mother who financially supported my son solely on my own. And did so proudly as that was the commitment that I MADE to my child. At some point you have to accept responsibility too and do what’s right because far too often it’s not “if only he didn’t have kids”…it’s “if only his ex shared the responsibility of supporting the child/ren that it took both of you to conceive” In many cases, CS is set ridiculously high as though it is a fine for a failed relationship. What’s that teaching your child/ren?
My advice to you:
1. work to change your status from underemployed to gainful employment with benefits so that you can care for the child that you brought into this world.
2. make a budget and stick to it.
3. accept that BOTH parents are responsible for said child and his/her life will be much richer for it. Teaching them that every choice has a consequence and a strong work ethic will take you much farther than a handout!
Bitterandcold, I agree with you completely! As someone who has lived on both sides, not receiving a dime in CS for my son to marrying a man who pays out the butt…the world is full of women who are always searching for greener pastures and act as though they have no financial responsibilities for the children that they brought into this world. To them I say…Get a Job, set an example, earn your child’s respect. STRUGGLE, then next time you find yourself tempted to betray a “GOOD” man you might just stop and reconsider.
I couldn’t agree more!! Most of us as single/divorced moms have had to work and also provide support for our children. I find it disgusting that the court is basically saying that husband and I (two income family) are responsible to contribute all my husbands wages (nearly) to a one income family by choice and completely absolve the mom’s responsibility to support her own children.
I couldn’t agree more! Child support laws are unrealistic and extremely biased against NCPs. My husband pays $300/week to his ex for their 10 year old, plus he provides medical insurance and pays 75% of all copays, daycare and other unreimbursed expenses. They alternate full weeks during the summer and school breaks and my husband has to pay the full support amount to her even when we have his son for those weeks. So, we are providing food, clothing and entertainment, etc. at our house and at hers. Now, his ex is taking him back to court again for an increase as she “can’t afford to provide for their child on the little she gets”. She is remarried, has a job making 50k/year and only has their child to support and they live in a small rural area. She kept the house and all it’s contents in the divorce. My husband and I have 2 children under 8. The laws say child support is meant to allow the child the lifestyle he/she would have enjoyed had the parents not divorced. This is unrealistic. I can understand a cost of living increase but why should she financially benefit from my husband’s hard work and him striving to better his life. So, every time he works hard and gets a raise she can go back for more money? It’s basically punishment. I would never condone him not supporting his son but child support should be based on the standard of living at the time of divorce as no one can say for sure that their career paths would have gone the way that they have had they stayed together. My husband will tell you for a fact that he would not be where he is professionally if they had stayed together. Who can say what kind of lifestyle the child would have enjoyed? So, basically my husband busts his hump working sometimes 80 hours per week and in the end she benefits. He went to school full-time and worked full-time to get his degree while supporting his family and she benefits. She isn’t the one who sacrificed for him to go out and better himself, yet she benefits. She is happy pushing buttons in a factory because my step-son makes about $1500/month. There is no accountability and a line needs to be drawn. But, instead, our state says “yup, you pay her more money because you have a child with her and those two little ones you have at home, they don’t count. In this state first children come first.” What about the rights and needs of our children? What about their lifestyle? It’s okay to decrease theirs or, at least, not increase it because his ex wants more money? My husband can work his tail off but they are not entitled to the same quality of life that their older brother is because he came first and daddy was married before? How fair is that? What about her accountability and responsibility. There is absolutely no way that she cannot afford to provide for my step-son on less than she gets for CS. Something needs to be done about this. If you go by federal guidelines as to how much it costs to raise a child in a certain area, according to the USDA it costs about $13112 to support my step-son annually based on the income of both parents and where they live. Why is that not taken into account? Why is it just, we’re taking this percentage of your income so keep busting your butt to better your ex’s life, at least until he turns 21? BTW, the ex-wife went to college about 6 years ago and was bragging about this new, higher paying job she was getting until her lawyer told her that her CS would decrease based on that salary so she actually turned down the job. Do you think the court punished her for it? Of course not! Nothing like not thinking about bettering your own life instead of living off of someone else’s hard work and sacrifice.
Yes, exactly. Same in Canada.
Careful with that. I filed for divorce, because my husband never did any kind of paperwork for the family…I always payed the bills and filed the taxes and got cars registered, too, during the marriage. But he was the one who left the house, and he was the one who wanted the divorce. I actively did not want it. And he does pay both child support and alimony, because we always prioritized his career over mine. It’s gonna take me a bit to get on my feet, because of choices we made together, to support his goals. There is more than one possible story.
This is a waaaay too common story. Something must be done.
I’d like to see your source for those figures.
You are so right Richard. It’s funny how the amount to support the “kids” changes so dramaticlly once the parents are together anymore. It is not a man or woman’s place to support their ex once things are over.
How could your husband get full custody against a woman? We are in a bad situation now with my husband, because of his ex gf and it stresses me out because he is really depressed and i am afraid of losing him. :'(
Sorry, but it’s hard to concentrate on “being there for his kids” when Mom takes them to the movies every week and we’re about to lose the roof over our heads. Why should I have to lose my house and savings while the kids go to the movies and get brand new cell phones and electronics every year, and go to the movies and participate in any extracurricular they want? The children don’t NEED those things; they need food, shelter, clothing, etc.
to Raul
U sound like a very bitter man.
As a mother of 3 myself I COMPLETELY AGREE. I do receive child support for my 3 kids but I was completely reasonable and my ex thanks me almost weekly for being so reasonable. My boyfriend’s ex is the opposite. They have 50% custody, she lives in income housing paying $0 rent, gets food stamps, doesn’t claim her income on eBay AND STILL he’s supposed to pay her $300/month and pay for 2 kids to have insurance. Funny thing is, he lost his job and can’t do either, she will not allow him to claim even one kid for food stamps, she makes about $3,000+ a month and has like NO BILLS, and he makes $0. Ya she’s so concerned about the kids’ well being by not letting him have food stamps to feed them while he has them 50% of the time. So guess who has to pick up the slack?! Ya me.. and I’m a low income family myself with 3 kids and now my kids get the SHAFT because NOBODY wants to take responsibility for these 2 kids, not even their own MOTHER.
You are right- and I am a woman but I agree fully!
I agree with you, but you are much nicer about it than I am. My response would be, “oh well, you said it yourself, you knew it when you married him” Do you expect the children to go without because of you? I would continue to say that I have no sympathy for her, that it is what it is and stop bitching because I can guarantee that the mother and the children have it MUCH worse. That the mother scrapes and probably goes without so her kids should have things, well the husband should do the same!!! I would also say that she lives a good distance away, she hardly EVER has the kids so she does not pay for much most of the time and EVERY LITTLE THING adds up. And since this woman has no children, she has no clue about all those little things, all the birthday parties, class field trips, “designer” clothes that EVERYONE has, just going to the movies or going to get an ice cream or…….. She has no clue!! I have no sympathy for these “second wives” I am sorry, they knew this when they signed up. Sorry!! Just my opinion. YOU did not sound harsh and I do not think I was that bad either because I could say so, so much more!! lol
Kack – I have to disagree completely. There are users/abusers of our legal system on both sides of this issue .. men and women .. custodial and non-custodial parents. Pick from a long list of reasons why vengeful ex’s do it and go all the way down to some are simply that greedy. On the other hand, there are plenty of “deadbeat” parents that seem to forget they have an obligation to help with their children once the divorce has settled and do everything they can to circumvent the process, regardless of the consequences.
I’ve been on both sides of the issue myself. I seldom saw child support for my two oldest children and had to struggle to make everything work out. We all know how expensive it is to raise a child these days. I had jobs I definitely would have preferred to avoid, from being a correctional officer in a maximum security prison and a second job at night at a chicken processing plant. I also eventually joined the military so we could have some degree of security, financially and medically (we have a special needs child). Right from the start though, I disagreed with what the court said it would be for child support. It was over $1100.00 for two children. It DOES NOT cost an additional $1100.00 to HELP support two children! It didn’t cost half of that. I did the paperwork to ask for a modification to reduce it to almost $300 per child. Granted, I seldom saw that either, but it was a figure that allowed for me to put them in childcare while I worked as well, and do some of the things the kids enjoying doing.
Fast forward to the other side of things. My current husband is paying $600 a month for ONE child, in addition to providing health and dental insurance, and helping with extra activities. While the child is continually told by his mother that they don’t have money for this or that (she almost makes more than my husband does without counting the child support), she is out at bars, shopping for herself, getting tattoos and surgically inserted piercings. She blows money like it grows on trees and then comes around with sob stories about her utilities going to be cut off. Meanwhile, we continually tell our children we have to save in order to go to the movies, or the shoes that teens think they must have will have to wait until a birthday or something along those lines. They are needing braces, and we haven’t been able to afford that for them, either. Do the children in those situations also just have to “suck it up” as you say the wives should?
DISAGREE. My husband and I have 3 children together; “Our” children go without because of the ridiculous amount of child support he has to pay his ex wife for 1 child. We both work, pay for childcare, and I go to school as well. We are suffering and get no assistance at all. While the ex-wife gets child support from three different men, welfare, foodstamps, free healthcare, and commits IRS fraud by having someone else claim her kids so she can get more money. I agree that he has an obligation to “help” support them but, hello? Our children matter too and they deserve that support as well. They don’t see much of their father because he is always working. He works so hard to not even be able to afford to help raise our children, provide for them financially, or feed himself while working.
You know I am sick and tired of hearing about dads being dead beats,there are more dead beat moms than dads do some research and you with find out.I just got out of courtand got to pay more money. I have not seen my kids for 11 years bbecause she took them from me and the court did nothing about it.In fact we both work for the same company different shift and she took a pay cut so she could get more money,and today I found out she has her old position back and making more money than me. Now where do you see that is right dead beat dad my ass.
I agree with “country”. The moms are the DEADBEATS!!! They abuse the system!!! Why the courts can’t see this is beyond me!!!
I’m response to cranky mommy, I am the “second wife”. In response to your comments.
1. I agree, any resentment I have only hurts me, but also my relationship with my husband.
2. We have a tight budget.
3. There might be something I am missing but in 90 percent of the situations where we incur an increase in the monthly child support is when the mother of my husband’s daughter decides they will live in the most expensive suburb in the state and things are needed such as private sailing, painting and golf lessons. We pay half of an absurd amount without the option to give input, we just pay half of whatever and say thank , can I have another. In addition we pay half of all dr and dentist which in this case the mother takes her to have a brain scan for a mild headache.
This is ridiculous and puts a huge strain on us, on purpose I believe. The bitterness stems from her and they obviously “use” my step- daughter to hurt each other. Sad.
Well said…tired of hearing how hard it is for the new wives…half you probably made the situation what it is …about 60% of the new wives were the reason that father is no longer in the home ..I’m not saying all but remember when you marry and you’re the second wife your only getting half the story and if you were the reason he left you probably wanted what they had together. . Simply put…now to be very clear a child needs a roof over their heads food to eat clothes to wear childcare transportation medical care medication and most importantly quality time and equal time with both parents not to mention who has to take days without pay when the child is hospitalized or sick at home because sitters or childcare facilities don’t allow sick children to attend and that’s just for boys add to that for pads pain relievers bras and grooming products if you have females so do the math cause last time I check no prices on any of those things listed have decreased. .so for all them second wives unless it’s your child you really have nothing to say…because if if it were your child or children I’m sure you’d do the same to assure your child has everything he or she needs..
I don’t understand your sense of entitlement. I was raised by my mom and my dad rarely if ever paid her a cent. She didn’t whine and complain about it, and I don’t hate my dad for it either. She made a decision to have a child, the father’s do not get the right to choose whether to keep a child or give it up for abortion, they don’t get a choice on taking birth control. That’s what the woman gets to choose. So if the woman gets to make the final choice on keeping a baby, she should also realize that babies are expensive, they should not equal a payday. It’s not right that the man is left absolutely broke while the woman gets away with having her rent paid for her. And I speak as a woman, with a child. My ex is gracious enough to give me 1/4 of what the courts would deem fair due to income, but he spends time with our daughter, treats her well and loves her. I have never taken him to court or talked to a lawyer because it was my choice to have a child, therefore that child is my responsibility on my days with her come what may. The entitlement among women that are okay seeing someone they once loved scrape the bottom of the barrel to be able to make a rent payment or buy food to support their family is absolutely disgusting.
pre-nup man, most states have predetermined figures for the courts to use for child support, so an pre-nup that is less than that is likely to be thrown out. Also zero for spousal support won’t fly if you asked your wife to stay home, be a homemaker, and care for the children full time. She will be given, and be entitled to support while she reestablishes her ability to support herself. If you accustomed your wife to a certain lifestyle, you are likely to find divorce will not eliminate your responsibility to provide that lifestyle. The longer the marriage, the longer she will be allowed to maintain that lifestyle. As for a divorce on paper, there is no such thing, they are either married or divorced, if she wishes to remain married, and not just live with her husband, then separating her assets is the best she can do at this point. It also might make it easier for her to accept his responsibilities if she remembers that the ex-wife is only getting the spousal support, the child support portion, while the check may be made out to her, is for the children, and must spent on their care. Marriage is a partnership, and involves legal complications for both parties, it is best to do your financial planning prior to the wedding. I am a big fan of pre-nups, I think a woman is more likely to get a good deal when negotiating with a man who loves her, and she can learn a lot about his character in the negotiating process.
Tea, all great points. Just to clarify, divorce on paper just means to go through the divorce, but still live together, etc. Just a forced separation of assets in the governments eyes. Like you, I’m a big fan of prenups (in case you couldn’t tell by my handle)
So what about a legal separation would that work the same.
“I knew when I married him I’d be taking a financial hit, and I have.”
His children didn’t appear out of nowhere. You KNEW what you were getting in to. You made an adult decision to marry someone with previous financial obligations. Period. They are his CHILDREN – not some ridiculous time-share or a sports car he is paying for.
The upside is, it isn’t forever. The court ordered financial obligation has a stop date. Suck it up and plan for that future. There are cash job opportunities out there that can offset this financially lean time in your life. Babysitting (though you don’t sound like much of a fan of children) or something like picking up lawn mowing jobs. Get a roommate if you have extra space. Things of that nature can help a person survive. I know, I’ve been on BOTH sides of the fence. I am a single mother and always worked two jobs. Sometimes three. I’ve had to have roommmates as well. You just have to accept what is and deal with it.
Besides, how much respect could you have for the man you married if he were a deadbeat dad?
Yes, they’re his children, but somehow, magically, the ex-wife has to spend 3-4 times what they used to spend on the children? Why is it that the state can come up with an arbitrary percentage? Perhaps it’s the financial incentive from the federal government for maximizing child support orders?
What about when the mom stays home and lives off her husband’s substantial salary continues to have kids, already has a welfare fraud conviction, left us holding the $10K bill for something she ran up and they caught my husband because of course he’s the only one who works. And yet we pay for her plastic surgeries, fancy cars, constant vacations and she cries about how she can’t make it. They can afford all these things and their rent is $700 MORE than our mortgage. We are trying to make ends meet and catch up on payments from when he wasn’t working. Should we feel the same lack of sympathy for the step dad who picks up the cost for the kids?
I would go back to court and get a modification of the order, it seems too high. I work for the State of FL in Child Support Enforcement and the highest judgement in ANY case can only be 55% of the non custodial parents (NCP) income only – and thats if there are multiple custodial parents and families taking from the NCP income. Usually for one family the max is about 35% of income. It would help if he could change ownership of any large assets out of his name so he could bring down his net worth too.
Hello,
I saw your post and just wanted to ask a question. My husband and I have three children together and he has 1 by himself. He is ordered to pay child support and he does. However, is there a form that allows the FL Dept of Revenue to talk to me regarding his case? I am not a party in the case.
Frugalapolis would it be possible to contact me via my email? The reason I ask is that I could use some information regarding Florida Law. I live in NY and I am dealing with the state of Florida and Child support. Hope to hear from you. Thanks for your time.
I’m a family law lawyer in my state, and there’s a few things that can be done- 1) have your husband ask for a support modification. It can be reduced based on the needs of the parents and the child, reduced because a child is no longer in daycare, etc. The purpose of child support is to keep the lives of the children as financially equal as possible between the two households. 2) The only time 60% is taken out of someone’s income is when there is back support owed. Have your husband get caught up on any back amounts and then ask for the modification again. Or, if he can’t pay the back support, have him ask the court for a payment plan. 3) Most states adopted a new “cap” on support amounts being taken out (to 50%).See if that’s true in your state and (guess what) ask for a modification. 4) Look over your state’s child support formula. Every state is required to have one. The formula will define what is and what is not income. For example, in my state, only the parent’s income is considered for support– not the new spouse’s income. 5) See what the spousal support amount is in comparison to the child support amount- I bet he’s paying WAY more in spousal support than in child support. See what her “income” was set at, and ask for an adjustment. Has she gone to school/made herself more marketable? Can she work a job at minimum wage but is choosing not to (the court can impute an income for her)? 6) Steer clear of under the table earnings like J. says- it can only lead to an increase in the support amount AND possible jail time (you’re lying on court documents- that’s perjury/ hiding assets. That’s a contemptable charge, looking at a fine and/or jail time. 7) Every state has forms that a court participant can complete, asking for a waiver of fees. If he has to pay court fees every time he goes to court (which is odd in itself- usually only the person bringing the motion has to pay), he can ask that the fee be waived. 8) He needs to keep in perspective that the money is for his KIDS. He’s helping to make their lives better (ballet lessons, piano, etc). It shouldn’t come as a surprise that kids are expensive. The Wall Street Journal estimated in 2008 that it would cost $222,360 to raise ONE child born that year, up through the child’s age of majority. Putting your husband’s support amount into perspective… I’m sure he’s not even paying *half* that amount.
And, prenups can be invalidated if the court sees that the support amounts you agreed upon for the children is unfair. If the prenup was signed 6 years prior to the dissolution of the marriage, and the circumstances of the parties have changed, the court can easily change the support amount. Prenups are used more for property and financial splitting- not for setting child support amounts.
Great info honestly. Need all the help we can get right now.
Family lawyer aye. I would be so afraid to even think about that carrier.
My husband is not in arrears and has never been. Keep in mind, it’s 60% of his take home pay… not his gross. All incomes for both parties are current – we just revisited child support last month. It’s the “extraordinary expenses” that are making the amount so great. If all of the “expenses” weren’t calculated in there.. the support would be about 35%.
If the two of them were still married, they wouldn’t be able to afford all of those expenses! It suprises me that the court considered so many things an “extraoridinary expense”
I feel the agony of being married to someone who pays child support. It’s a hassle. The ex is constantly taking us back to court even when he’s at the same job. We constantly have the kids and they are taking out 48.9% for 4 kids and then the rest in taxes and still owes another 200 each month. He barely make over 1200 a month. I have a disabled child as well as a newborn with him and I feel as though I shouldn’t have to take up the slack by working two jobs because he has to pay her child support. I didn’t have the kids why is there not something in place for the moms who end up marrying and man who has to pay child support?? We shouldn’t have to choose to struggle with finances to be with someone who makes us happy. Especially if the divorce was the ex’s fault due to adultery. He didn’t choose to leave his kids. She just refused to let him have them and her family is loaded and can constantly pay for everything from her house to car to food clothes etc and she works while we struggle to make ends meet. It’s not fair to him and the children aren’t being taken care of by her. We buy them clothes and hair cuts and school stuff. While she goes out partying and drinking with her soon to be husband that is on his 4th dwi. Is there nothing he can do??
Ladies stop marrying Daddies! Their are Plenty of bachelors w/o kids! You knew the job was dangerous when you took it!
Great Advice! And men…..stop marrying these deadbeat single mothers! There is a reason they are single! If they did it to the last guy, they will do it to you!
Well first let me say that I am a father of 5 by the same woman. I never cheated always faithful and always home. I love my children with all my heart and would spend the last dime if I had to. With that said I have to explain that Cs is totally unfair and is extremely aggressive towards the father. Both me and my ex are military she has 21 of service and I have 16. Reason for that is when my son was born in decided to get out and take care of our son and let her stay in.4yrs later I decided to go back in to the service. Years later we are divorced in Hawaii. Side note never come to this place they take 70% gross income. Anyways the military pays additional money if you are married or have kids. You get extra money if you decide to live off base. Who ever is the highest ranking get the most money and the other gets partial. She out ranks me so she gets more money for rank and time in service plus other entitlments and she lives on base. This means the military keeps the money they normal gives you for rent.the add plus to this is you don’t pay utilities except cable. The other parent me. Can not live on base because only one of us can claim the kids so I am forced to live of base. Now remember I have to pay 70% of my Income plus rent, utilities, gas/ auto repairs, food for the kids when the visit, cloths, and any other items needed to survive. Now you may so well you have to pay daycare well her sister lives with her since we had our first born he is now 13. That’s another story in its self. The point is here if my money true is spent for the kids then the kids should not sleep on the floor and wear other people clothes while she and her sister spends the child support money,
Some of us are real women who respect and stand by our men, no matter what his situation.
Can I just say I don’t think divorcing, even on paper, is a good idea. It puts other rights and privileges at risk, like hospital visitation and medical decisions should something happen, inheritance if there is no will, and other things. Is losing out on those, something that I would consider to be invaluable (such as seeing your spouse in the hospital) worth a “paper” divorce? Because once you’re divorced on paper, you lose the rights that come with that piece of paper to.
Yes, if they were still married they could not afford those expenses. But they are not still married. There are now 4 adults who can help pay for their expenses. His children are benefiting from that situation. It is his children who are benefiting, not his ex-wife. I would suggest trying to build a better relationship with his ex-wife, so that you can decide together what activities you can and cannot afford to provide. If you can decide together, you can avoid lawyers and court fees. Also, keep in mind that when child support ends, is obligation to his children does not. there will most likely be college and other expenses. So keep that in mind for your long term financial planning.
I know nothing about the court system or anything, so I can’t provide advice. Sounds like you need a better lawyer, a nicer judge, and a less vengeful ex wife
I married a man who had three children (I have none by choice). At the beginning, he was bringing home about $1900 a month and $900 a month went to child support. Out of the $1,000 left, he had to pay car ins., gas, food, rent, a loan repayment to friends (500), basically, everything. The ony reason his expenses for living were so low was because I had a very small condo. Otherwise, he would have had to move in with this mom, as $1,000 a month wouldn’t have been able to support him. It got easier as the kids aged out of child support (2005, 2007 and 2009) and now we are in catching up mode with saving, retirement, etc.
I knew full well what I was doing at the time but the funny thing is that I thought it would be OVER when they were 18!! The joke was definitely on me. I reasoned that ok, I had to suck it up all those years doing without part of his paycheck, now I wanted the whole thing for our joint goals. Well, we had to figure out a way he could help his now older kids without me getting my panties in a wad. (A generous weekly allowance did the trick – he gives part of his to his two college age kids – I save mine for travel – a cruise in June with my sister and a trip to Germany to see friends in October). I’m happy with that arrangement but it’s weird to see that his “personal” account has like $300 in it and mine has about $2,000. Everyone knows that kids are expensive and really, it never ends. Even when they are adults.
I hardly think expecting a father to take financial care of his children is “vengeful.” And I really hope this resentment over money from their stepmom isn’t hurting these kids.
It becomes vengeful on the part of the ex when she is getting so much of your income that she is living high on the hog, going out to eat every night, and buying new cars, a new house (which her dad ended up paying for in full for her), plus going on vacations with friends…all the while the other parent is so strapped that their house they actually worked hard for is going into foreclosure, they are rationing out milk to their kids that live with them full time, and they literally have no extra money for the child shared in the first marriage divorce to enjoy any standard of living when he is at his father’s house. My husband was already paying towards a college fund, splitting EVERY cost, giving his ex extra money (though a court order said his child support was $0, due to making virtually the same amount of money and having 50/50 joint and physical custody). My husband only had to put into a 529 account each month that he and his ex agreed on and had put in the court order, but he went over and above, because he loves his son and takes full responsibility for his child and is involved as much as he possibly can be. He is definitely not a deadbeat, but his ex wife is vengeful. Does that explain the correlation between vengeance and child support? And, yes, I am the stepmom. I do have a lot of resentment as we are rationing milk out to our kids down now to one glass a day, but the situation has been explained to my stepson as he is 9 years old and wondering why we can’t even go to a movie at all or why he can’t have a glass of milk at lunch AND supper. My resentment is definitely towards my husband’s ex, but it would be silly and a lie to say that any of the kids don’t see frustration when it comes to money and how the heck we are going to pay school lunches for my 16 year old Autistic son. I am just the stepmom, but I lowered my own ex’s child support from $750 to $250, because that’s what he could truly afford without losing his home and vehicle. I also treat my stepson like he is my own. He is no different than my own kids, he is not above or below them because they are biological to me and he isn’t. He is still a child and he is my husband’s son. It would be shameful if it were any other way as it’s not the children’s faults when their parents can’t stay together for whatever reason. And, it is not my place to punish a child, just because he is from my husband’s previous wife. Again, it is greedy parents that get more than enough child support, whether it’s ordered or not, and then go for more just to punish their ex as much as possible for their marriage or relationship not working out. Financial responsibility crosses over to vengeance when one of the parents is greedy.
No kids or ex-spouse, but these are my random thoughts for what they’re worth.
1. His income makes a difference. I would think the judge is basing the amount on the children’s requirements, not so much the father’s income. So logically, if he increases his income, then he should be able to keep more money. 60% of $1000/month is $600. $600 from $2000 a month would only be 30%.
2. The child support payments are not tax deductible and the mother most likely gets to claim them for tax purposes. Hopefully the agreement takes this into account.
3. Hopefully the agreement only covers support through high school and age 18. If college support is required, I think I might turn into a dead-beat dad after they graduated from HS. JMHO.
Robert,
The support amount is based on an income shares model. For EXAMPLE, Mother makes $3000, father makes $3000. (Before tax deductions) Combined income is $6000. Court documents say 2 children at $6000 cost $2500. There’s a chart for this.
Husband’s income is 50% of $6000 so he pays 50% of the $2500. He pays $1,250. Add 50/50 split on cost of medical insurance, ballet lessons, tap lessons, art lessons, day care, etc — you’re looking at $1800/mo. These are considered “Extraordinary expenses” and are in addition to the monthly child support. This leave father with $1200 BEFORE taxes and health insurance deductions. I think if incomes were calculated on post-tax numbers, things would be easier all around.
If he increases his income, the combined income increases which increases the total child care cost. His percentage of the total increases and increases the support. He wouldn’t see much of an increase in what HE actually sees unless he were to get a HUGE pay raise.
Child support is non-taxable income for the custodial parent. The non-custodial parent has already paid the taxes. The custodial parent, more often than not, gets all tax benefits that come with having children. I don’t know much about those except that they are substantial benefits.
But, the purpose of my questions was to see how others are coping with this and planning for their futures – not to take jabs at the ex-wife or complain about my husband having to support his children. I’m honored to be their step-mother and will do whatever it takes to be sure they are taken care of. They are my family. When I married my husband, they were the best wedding gift I received! I hate that we can’t afford to provide all the extras for them when they are with us like they are able to receive when they are with their mother! They can’t understand that my husband does provide for them financially. They just see that dad has a tiny apartment and we never get to do anything fun like with mom. No fun. It breaks my heart to see my husband struggle with this.
Support does end after high school. Of course, we’ll help with college expenses, etc. But payments to the ex end when child is out of HS.
This is a GREAT discussion guys! Scares the crap out of me, but hopefully it’s helping :) Freakin’ love blogging!
Amy,
Do you think that you and your husband will be able to “catch up” after all of those years? Are you seeing light at the end of the tunnel?
Thanks for the reminder about it never ending, even when they’re adults (College, etc.). It’s definitely something to ponder. Maybe it’s worth ME setting some of MY money aside for that now to avoid financial problems after the CS ends so that we’ll be able to play catch up!
Prenups rarely apply to custody/child-support issues. Any kid-related clause will easily get tossed in court. It’s all judge’s discretion.
That said, get a better attorney. 60% is too much. I would be willing to bet around half is alimony, which is crap in my book. Unless the supported spouse was unemployed during the vast majority of the marriage, she can go back to work like everyone else.
I haven’t read all the comments, so I may or may not be duplicating what’s been said already but first of all…
ODDS are, the current wife’s income is NOT being taken into consideration. Mine never has been. (This can and does vary by state) This also means that odds are that the ex-wife’s new spouse (if she has one, his income isn’t being taken into consideration either).
60% IS a lot – and it can vary by state. In MI, I believe the limit is 50% – a noncustodial parent has GOT to live on something.
I would look up the state’s support guidelines. I find it pretty interesting that the custodial parent is able to go back to court for extra funds for extra-curriculars. The fact of the matter is – child support is for the care of the child. It is to ensure the kiddos’ needs are being met – food, clothing, shelter, the basics.
The extras? They’re just that. Extras. And IMO, they should not be dictated by the court. If you want your kid to play t-ball (random example), I think that is between the parents (and frankly, am surprised that the judge/referee/caseworker of this system isn’t frustrated by the constant appearances for more money… In MI, unless there’s a drastic change of circumstances – parent loses their job, parent starts making a lot more $, etc… – there’s a limit to just how often yo ucan ask for a modification).
We have actually stopped using any legal representation for child support stuff (thus eliminating legal fees and resentment) when it comes to most routine c/s matters re: my stepson because frankly, spending more money to lose more money just amps up the resentment (And honestly, giving a chunk of your income away each week can cause resentment enough on its own even when you know it’s really for the child).
Most states – yeah, that’s generic – have a table set up that shows mom’s income and dad’s income and what the support should be for those numbers.
I don’t advise going into arrears, though. If the support decree doesn’t already state it, I’d have your husband ask if he can claim his children on his taxes – if not every year than alternating years. No, it doesn’t fix everything, but it does help the financial burden on those years.
I would limit the extracurriculars though – i find it hard to believe he is LEGALLY obligated to contribute to those activities. Have each child pick an activity and contribute to those things if you CHOOSE to help (if it’s not legally required) – keeping a roof over your own head and feeling financially secure has to take precedence over those activities… even if it’s a bummer for the kids.
prenups are a legal binding document between the two parties; just as a contract is. IF it is written in a way that has no “wiggle room” and everything is stipulated, by law, the judge cannot throw it out. He has no grounds to void a legal document that the two parties agreed upon. Just ask any union rep.
From the numbers you put forward, it would appear that the child support is going to support his children. The payments are to the children, not the ex-wife. Her name may be on the check because she manages the children’s expenses, but they are payments to the children. Yes, you will stop mailing the check to his wife when they are 18, but you will probably still be paying for their health insurance. Day Care and dance lessons will be replaced with tuition and car insurance. And once you finish those expenses, there will be weddings, then grandchildren. I think for long term financial planning, I would count on 60% of his income going to his kids for the rest of his life. If it turns out they need less, then great you will have extra money. As for your living situation, I think honesty is best with kids. It doesn’t hurt for them to know you make less than their step father does, so no you can’t afford the kind of home they have. But there are plenty of fun things to do that don’t cost money. And the best gift you could give those kids is to teach them that life can be good without spending a lot of money.
Thank you for the suggestion, Tea.
The only part of CS that I have a problem with is that my husband doesn’t have a say in what “extras” HE can afford. Just because she and her new husband can afford to pay it, doesn’t me that we can? But this a flaw in the court system and not really a “financial” question.
I hope everyone understands I’m not angry about my husband supporting his children, I’m not angry that the check goes to his ex-wife and I’m not looking for loopholes to get out of paying! I just wanted advice from others who are coping with this.
If you guys can’t afford the extras, you need to talk to his ex about finding a cheaper daycare, cutting down on the extracurriculars, etc. I think that communication is the answer here.
Any chance you can change the custody of the children? Based on the formula you proposed above, if they lived with you, the ex-wife would send you the check each month. If you were able to do even half time, would that make a difference?
We’d love to have them half the time. The ex wife moved out of the state with her new husband and lives 9 hours away so it’s not feasible. They moved to a very rural part of the country so moving there would be very difficult as far as finding employment. Plus, we can’t follow them around the country. They’ve moved a few times to different states.
Crankymommy,
I agree with you and have begged for that! If only it were that simple between the two of them! They can’t even stand in a room together. It’s tough on the kids I’m sure and it’s a shame but out of my control.
If she relocated she should of had to do a relocation plan. Its required in florida and you can fight it. it would also put the burden of paying for thetravel back and forth
If it’s 60% of take-home income, is it possible for him to do some pre-tax retirement plans, that take out the money before taxes? That way you could save without that money being garnished.
If it were me, I’d probably be doing some cash work on the side to supplement my income. My husband’s daughter is in California, which has a 50% cap.
I am confused when people say the parents have to take care of their children after 18 y/o (tuition, car insurance, grandkids, etc). I know plenty of people (myself included) who were pretty much “kicked out” of the house at 18 and had to pay for their own college, rent, car, expenses, trips to Europe, etc. Are divorced parents not allowed to “kick out” their kids at 18? And what about the grandchildren? I think grandparents don’t “have to” help pay for those, only for the things they “want” to pay, whatever those might be (toys, lessons, whatever).
Not that I have a bad relationship with my parents, we are great! I think they taught me a lot about growing up and taking care of myself by doing this. And if I am in a tight spot, they help out but I’m still on my own to make ends meet, isn’t that what being an adult is about?
M.L. I was not suggesting that you don’t love his kids, I just think you will be a lot happier if you think of the money going to his kids. It may seem unfair that his kids are taking 60% of his income. But if you make your financial decisions based on that continuing, you won’t find yourself in a situation you can’t handle. If you decide to have a child or buy home, only 40% income may be all he will ever be able to give you. Hopefully at some point it will be more, but you don’t want to make life changing decisions on money you may never have.
Honestly, I think that the two of you should consider moving closer to the ex-wife and kids. If he was taking them every weekend AND long vacations AND summers, not only would the child support probably decrease, but he’d be a better father.
If either of you are unwilling to make that move, than I think you should suck it up and deal with not having the money. The time sacrifice you make for his children is only two months out of the year. You can spend that extra time that would be spent helping with homework, settling sibling disputes, driving to lessons, providing guidance, enforcing discipline, etc, finding ways to be more frugal with your money.
I am a stepmom myself, so I understand how it feels to be pulled in two different directions. On one hand you want the best life for that kid because you love them and want them to be happy and well-cared for. On the other hand you don’t want to be destitute yourself, working like crazy to be broke. It’s tough to feel both those things at once. You mentioned that you aren’t interested in having a child of your own right now, with a good part of that decision being based on not being able to afford it. Keep in mind that if you and your husband have a child, that child then becomes part of the equation and you can request a modification based on the fact that he now has three children to support. Because he is just as responsible for providing for that third child, the amount of support going for the other two should be reduced accordingly to allow adequate resources for the third. At least that’s how it is in my state. Your should be able to get a better idea with some research (in my state, the formuals and everything are readily available online and this concept is called a Qualified Additional Dependent). If you still don’t want to have a child that’s fine, just don’t make that decision for the wrong reasons or you may end up regretting it.
As for budgeting, I recommend you completely forget what he “makes” on paper and plany using only that leftover amount coming in. Combine that with yours and then decide how much should be going into retirement accounts (for both of you, because if you are planning to stay together your fates will be intertwined even into retirement), how much you can afford for rent, etc. You may find that your lifestyle is more expensive than you can actually afford which means trading down where you live or selling off the car with a payment and buying an older car for cash…basic frugality and debt-snowball type stuff.
Finally, I would recommend that you reconsider moving closer to the kids (therefore getting more time with them and paying less support money). While the salaries are smaller in a rural area, so is the cost of living so it may not be that much of a net change. As a child of divorced parents I can tell you that face time with the noncustodial parent is so important to the parent-child relationship. You are all missing out on some great stuff by being so far away. If you move there and then the ex picks up to leave you may be able to get the court to give you primary custody since you could provide a more stable home and you made the effort to be close. This depends on the laws of the state and sounds a lot easier than it is, but it’s a possibility.
Anyhow, wishing you the best of luck. It sounds like you are making the best of a challenging situation and just looking for ways to make things better for everyone.
‘ Keep in mind that if you and your husband have a child, that child then becomes part of the equation and you can request a modification based on the fact that he now has three children to support. Because he is just as responsible for providing for that third child, the amount of support going for the other two should be reduced accordingly to allow adequate resources for the third’
Please stop spreading these un-truthful ‘facts’. They are not true, and somebody might believe you and act on your words. Child support WILL NOT BE LOWERED IN THIS CASE!
As a single mom who has my child roughly 85% of the time and does not regularly receive child support, this is probably going to sound strange coming from me, but I can understand your frustration. I of course want my child to have the best of everything, but that’s just it. I want him to have it, but it’s not a necessity. He will be completely fine if he only plays one sport and not three. He does not have to attend every extracurricular activity that is thrown his way. Personally, I think children involved in too much are stretched way too thin. Sometimes they just need to be kids and have fun. Anyway, my point is to check into your state’s laws. Not all states take extraordinary expenses into account when calculating child support. I know mine doesn’t. It does consider things like daycare costs, but not discretionary extracurricular activities such as dancing lessons or sports lessons. My best suggestion is to find a really good family law attorney. It may cost you more upfront, but the money you may possibly be able to save in the long run could be worth it. And I do not think that this in any way diminishes your or your husband’s love for the children. Of course you want what’s best for them. But you also have to survive and should not have to struggle because of “extraordinary” items that the ex can afford but you can’t.
I agree with you, Tea.
Jennifer,
My husband is the best father that he is able to be. As I stated before, the new wife’s husband moves frequently with his job from state to state. He works in the oil business. We are unable to follow them around the country. Their current home is in a very rural part of the country, there’s no way we can afford to quit jobs, job search in a difficult market (esp in that area!) and not get behind with CS and other bills just to have to move again in a year or two. Impossible. We get the children one weekend a month, long vacations and the summer.
Confused Reader –
Whether or not a divorced parent can “kick out” an 18 year old child might depend on the agreement made when the divorced and child support were finalized. In my case, my divorced parents were each obligated to pay 1/3 the cost of tuition at an in-state university. So 1/3 from Mom, 1/3 from Dad, and then I was responsible for the last 1/3. If I had decided to go to a private, more expensive college then I would have also been responsible for the additional tuition costs. Some child support arrangements specify that support continues until the child reaches the age of majority (18), then some other financial support kicks in for a few years provided the child is enrolled at a qualified educational institution.
I’m curious about the extraordinary expenses.. correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like almost $600 a month is just for extras like lessons and sports, etc? It just seems excessive to me. We just finished paying child support last summer and hubby and I have two children and there is no way any “extras” have ever cost us that much, even when paying child support.
I guess it depends on what the judgement states and what state you are living (actually the child lives)?
I’m completely in agreement that the children shouldn’t suffer, but niether should the noncustodial parent.
That is very sad. I don’t think there should be child support laws at all. Parents should support their children. I don’t have any advice, because I don’t know a good solution, but it’s an option to seek full custody. The custodial parent is the one actually supporting the children; child support payments have little to do with the child. It’s a punishment payment levied on the non-custodial parent using the child as a weapon of extortion. If there’s a way to keep the law out of the situation, that is the only way there can be any winners. Children cannot win when their very existence makes a living hell out of the life of a parent, and it makes love – which is what everything good is all about – secondary.
My first suggestion is get a new lawyer. Find the meanest, ugliest shark you can because the one you have is gettin’ their butt kicked. I would look for a lawyer that got angry WITH me about the injustice of the matter. Until I found that I would keep shopping. Pay the fees, because it is going to be worth it in the long run.
Second, find out what the child support garnishment laws are in your State. In California for example, child support is only allowed to take 50% of net income, which will get 10% of it back into your pocket.
Another thing to do is make sure that your husband’s withholding is correct to claim the children that he is allowed to claim, via court documents. A lot of people forget about this, but a child tax credit is $1000 per child, which could help throughout the year. If his W4 is adjusted to reflect that then he will have more money in his checks. YOU DON’T WANT A TAX REFUND! Child support will just take it from you if you get a tax refund because of the 10% that isn’t being collected.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t pay the full 60% of child support due, but I do see that your family CAN’T pay that amount. It’s too much. If you had the money I would say do what your obligation is.
Hubs should be allowed to claim the tax deductions for the kids. I’m not sure I have any advice for coping, because as some have already pointed out, it does continue on past age 18 (my stepson flunked out of college and is living less than paycheck to paycheck with mom paying most of his bills, but managing to guilt dad into an average of $400 a month.) Someday it will be over, but there has to be something legally he can do. You need a better lawyer…
I’m a single mom, my kids are with me 100% of the time and after going back to court, I’ve just recently begun receiveing child support again. My ex has never been required to pay for any extra curricular activities. Yes, they are good for the kids, but it’s my choice to allow them to participate. I would love help with tutors, dance, sports, etc., but I’m not going to get it and frankly, have never heard of this. (Probably since the laws vary from state to state.) I do want to say thank you. I know this is difficult for you guys and I think what you’re paying is excessive, but I appreciate so much that your husband IS paying. Too often, that’s not the case.
Wow! My heart goes out to you and your situation! I can relate from both sides of the fence – I receive CS for my oldest son and my husband pays out CS for his oldest daughter. Fortunately, we’ve not had to experience what you are going through. My original court order is from Texas (which is very strict on CS) and I’ve received the same amount each month for the past 10 years – even though my ex has changed jobs and pay grades – because I chose not to press the issue because ultimately as the primary parent it is my responsibility to provide the majority of the support for my son. The child support is to help supplement some of the expenses – but not ALL of them. There is no asking his father for funds for extracurricular activities – I choose to put my son in those activities and I make it work with the budget I have with my income and the monthly CS I receive. The only “additional” money that I receive from his father is 50% of all his medical expenses – which is pretty standard. Both sets of parents have families to support and it’s not fair to anyone involved to make the other live paycheck-to-paycheck.
Is it part of the court order that he has to pay CS and ALSO send extra money for extra-curricular activities? It sounds as though that is double paying… The child support is just that – support for the child and up to the parent receiving the funds to determine where it needs to be spent.
I would definitely take the advice of others and check into the laws of the state that the order is for and see what the percentages are and what the funds are supposed to go to. Also, ask for a modification. I have seen instances where the income of both parents was taken into consideration in extreme hardship.
Best of luck to you all!
This hits too close to home. My husband had 2 children when I married him and my life was at the whim of his ex until they went to college. My income was included in the determination of child support, so I think this issue is dependent on the state you live in. I’m in California. Courts use a chart in determining child support. Unfortunately there is nothing you can really do. Maybe you should get pregnant and when the baby is born have your husband quit his job to become a stay at home dad! No income. . . I’d get advice from an attorney.
Although my husband and I have survived all this mess and are in a great place, I would advise anyone considering a relationship with someone who has kids to run the other way. It ruins more marriages than make it. Sad but true.
Good luck.
I have never thought that child support extends beyond 18 years of age. It seems unfair to the divorced-parents to have to support the child after they turn 18, while still-married parents get to make decisions like that for themselves. I’m not saying parents shouldn’t take care of their kids after they turn 18 IF THEY WANT TO. That’s their adult decision. But why, oh why, do we punish divorced parents with this crap! And why do we detain kids from growing up and keeping them bundled after they turn 18.
Good luck to the OP, I hope those step-kids of yours get themselves on their own two feet when they leave for college (and that they DO leave for college). I have no personal advice to give but getting a second opinion with a tougher lawyer sounds like a good option recommended above.
In NY child support is until 21, sometimes 22 if they’re in college full time. That’s right! Kids away at college full time? Continue paying mom the child support while still getting requests from your college student for some spare cash.
As a single mother of two young children, I am in shock that that much is being paid out per month. I don’t get a penny from my ex. :( It gets really tough at times. Being a single mom is extremely tough. Personally, you knew what you were walking into. Just because the children don’t live with you and your husband, doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be paying to help support. However, I do think their mom should cut back on the activities, as I do NOT think a child should be in that many things at a time. I wish that my ex would even send me $100 a month!
I’m both a lawyer and a stepmom, although I don’t practice in family law. (My husband does.) In NV, for two kids, it would be about 25% of the income. 60% seems excessive for two kids with the same mother. (It would still be under 40% if they had different mothers.) Changed circumstances are typically things like a drastic drop in grades, a major life event, etc. Not taking up piano lessons.
If she has primary custody, however, she is due child support. Plain and simple. If he can’t afford the payments or if they are not in line with what your state statutes outline for the percentages per child, your husband needs to have a long discussion with his lawyer. If he isn’t represented, he needs to be. Plain and simple. He should not have to work a second job to pay his support payments. So it seems that there is more going on here. (It may be a marital settlement agreement with some type of alimony or he is paying her for a division of their assets.)
As for how to avoid this, get a lawyer at the divorce. The best that you can find. Don’t try to do it yourself when kids are involved and you may have to pay support. You will often end up in a situation like this. And, please, do not see a paralegal service that is practicing law without a license. Even worse. Then, you think you are getting decent advice and you aren’t. (I read this comment on another blog – you wouldn’t let some random person on the street take out your appendix, right? That’s how you need to treat the law. Go see someone with a license.)
M.L. Why not have the court put a maximum amount allowed for extraordinary expenses so that the amount does not ever get beyond 1,200? Have you guys considered filing for custody, so she would have to pay child support to him. If you love the kids, and the husband wants to provide for them, why not share them equally? Maybe it is your husband’s turn to raise the children in his household and the mother should get a break and pay child support. Just a thought.
Something I keep seeing cropping up is the change of custody thing – it’s really really DIFFICULT to change custody – and w/o knowing the entire situation, it’s hard to say if it’d be warranted. Yeah, it’d solve the money problem… but it’s not that easy.
(Though, who knows – the argument of providing a stable home without moving so frequently could actually be an argument in the OPs favor if they did opt to go that route. I dunno.)
I like the idea of seeing about getting a cap on extra curriculars though. Though I’m a stepmom, I have two kids of my own and the number of extra activities they can do is limited – I don’t need to FILL every minute of their day – and I think one activity at a time is a reasonable amount for a child’s schedule (and my wallet).
(And I feel bad for the custodial parents that are getting by without any help from the child’s other parent… Both parents should support the children, absolutely – and I give you much credit, those of you going it alone without any help, financially or otherwise from the noncustodial parent)
WOW! I got a totally different tone from the question than what is being talked about in the comments! I thought she was happy with his kids and totally WILLING to pay the child support but worried about how to budget and afford his retirement! LOL!
Think that you should meet with a financial planner and stick to a very strict budget so that you can make the most of what little you have left over each month.
Also do either of your employers have a matching program for retirement contributions? And it might be worth looking into seeing if he contributes more automatically from his paycheck if the courts would consider that as ‘income’ or not? It might reduce the amount he has to report to the courts because it’s going into a penalty to remove type of account?
Just my thoughts! :)
Kristi, we are willing to pay the child support and that WAS my question. I may not think some of the stipulations are fair but I don’t make those calls, the State does.
So, my question was more “how to cope and budget” not “how to lower CS” Thank you for noticing! ;)
I wonder, from the point of view of the second wife, it looks like unconstitutional desapropriation of her income. What does she have to do with these kids?
Of course, it seems they should have been intelligent enough to never marry. I highly doubt that there was a legal way to take money away from an unmarried person to pay for child support of an unrelated unknown party.
The entire child support industry is a single ripoff for men. Read the discussion here
http://www.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/gkxt4/married_couple_coping_with_husband_having_to_pay/
M.L.
I can’t answer for everyone but I know for me, the intent is not reducing the actual C.S. but the “extras” for non necessities. Medical/Dental, sure those are necessary but most things outside of that are not and there should be a cap on what would be considered reasonable.
Any medical/dental bills split 50/50 would come after the service is provided and the insurance has paid… not a $600 cushion each month
M.L.,
My heart goes out to you in this situation. It is TOUGH to be a step-mom…I always say it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. And like you, I’ve created a good relationship with the mother, which has helped tremendously. I commend you on that…NOT easy to do! You have a good attitude and outlook, and that’s what is going to get you through all this.
I work in the family court system, and I would say that a majority of these dads that I see on a day-to-day basis that pay these high amounts of support live with their parents AND have two jobs! It’s unbelievable the sacrifices they go through to support their children. Then, of course, I also see the ones that go to jail because they refuse to pay their support! So I’m sure it’s going to be a constant struggle for you and your husband to afford this obligation for quite a few more years.
My advice is just to hang in there….it sounds like you know what’s important and what priorities are in you and your husband’s lives, and I think that’s going to be what gets you through this. From what I’ve seen in court, most parents in your husband’s situation do have to wait until CS payments are concluded before really starting to plan for the financial future they hope for.
And I know you’re not looking for advice on the actual CS issue, but I do honestly believe that the “extra” expenses are able to be litigated if your husband so desires; therefore, that could save you some in the meantime. I really think that that part of his CS order is very unfair. :(
Good luck to you!!
@Yana: Of course parents SHOULD support their children. But plenty of them would not if it weren’t for child support laws. A close relative’s ex often did not send the money, forcing her to go after him legally. Maybe he thought he’d moved far enough away that they couldn’t find him. Guess what: He had to pay. If not for the law, he would have gotten away with skipping out on his responsibilities.
The payments are not “punishment” — they are the non-custodial parent’s share of bringing up the kids s/he helped make.
As for “the custodial parent is the one actually supporting the children”? — plenty of divorced parents could not make ends meet if not for the support checks. Those who don’t get any kind of help often end up in some pretty desperate straits.
If I were in this situtation as new-wife, here’s what I would do:
* Create a budget that uses only wife’s income. Ignore husband’s income, if there is any left, use that for savings, retirement, etc.
* If husband has the opportunity to contribute pre-tax money to a retirement account, then totally do that. I would shoot for 20% to help cover his missing income. (This should also lower his child support payments a bit.)
* Try to find fun things to do that don’t cost much money. It’s amazing the things that kids enjoy.
Since you are already in a difficult financial situation, it will be hard to pretend his income just doesn’t exist. But, if you two can work together and create a budget and decide what things are really important in your life together, then it will get easier. If you really got a handle on things, it could maybe even work out much better by omitting his income. Maybe you could downsize your house/apartment, find a cheaper area nearby, give couponing a try, lower your quality of life (such as nice cars, fancy clothes, dining and entertainment etc.). I do have to say that all those $$$ activities the kids are doing are just nuts. I can understand daycare, but more than one activity at a time is kind of just seems like a waste.
Everybody’s circumstances are always different, but hopefully you two can find a way to get ahead. Good luck. :-)
@Donna – I understand many people may agree with the way you look at it, but my take is that nobody is “forced” to go after an absent parent – unless there is public assistance involved. It’s a choice, normally.
“If not for the law, he would have gotten away with skipping out on his responsibilities.”
That makes me sad. Children ought to be a blessing and a joy, with parents who love them and support them because they want to. Not a burden. My personal attitude is that if you don’t want the man, you don’t seek his money. When I divorced the father of my child years ago, I wanted to waive child support rights. My attorney said I couldn’t do that, but I never pursued child support – and I was as poor as could be and still be able to provide a home for us. Desperate straits don’t justify what child support laws put children and victim parents through. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I’d like it better if they just called it “alimony”, because then it wouldn’t make weapons out of children.
Personally, I receive child support from a dead beat dad. I don’t care how much or how little he makes, the price of what he has emotionally done to his child can never be re-paid.
I think he makes in the neighborhood of 35K, and my daughter gets $525/month. While that may seem like a fair sum of money to some, it’s really diddly squat compared to what it takes to raise her. And in 2 1/2 years when he’s “off the hook”, I’m still on it. There will be cars, college, books, first houses, weddings, grandchildren… He will wash his hands of all of this once she turns 18. I will reap all the rewards of raising a strong, beautiful, care, young woman.
I could care less about his money, it means nothing to me or her. If she had it her way she would rather have a relationship with her father rather then a savings account.
Pardon my french… he’s a douche bag.
M.L.
My recommendation would be for you and your husband to create a budget that takes into account only your salary to live on. Take the $1000 a month left over from his salary and put $500 a month into a ROTH IRA for each of you until you hit the maximum for each acct ($5000). Then take the last $2000 a year that you will have left over and either plan a vacation for you and his kids, or a nice Christmas, or whatever.
But make your salary the salary that pays for the necessities. Housing, food, car, etc. His salary should fund joint retirement, and also any joint splurges. Start couponing (if you don’t already) to reduce your food/toiletries expenses. Try to use Groupon (or other sites like that) to get cheap membership to the zoo, or museum to take the kids when they come visiting.
Yes, you may be living in a tiny apartment and not have a lot of spending money – but you know what? A lot of young people live like that. It isn’t shocking that you would need to too. You chose to marry someone with previous obligations, and you need to be creative in how you can do that and also make the commitment to start saving for retirement.
Good luck!
@YANA- Saying that child support is a weapon using the children against the other parent- WOW, that is all I have to say. It costs a lot of money to raise children. And when the non-custodial parent just up and leaves, moving out of state and hasn’t paid anything toward the children, that is on them. I would never consider it a punishment against that parent when child support catches up with them. It isn’t like the other parent got up on themself to help make the children. Intsead of communicating to work it out, they just walk out and leave without even a warning sometimes (my experience at least). It isn’t a PUNISHMENT. The parent should help provide for their children.
Sarah stop being resentfull calling someone names dosen’t help anyone.
525$ for one child and you are complaining? I get 350$ for two if or when SHE pays.
M.L.
There is usually a limit that can be taken based on state laws I would verify with his lawyer and the state.
Actually Goose if you had read how much he pays and done some quick math at 2K a month that is over 400K which pays for both children completely based on your numbers.
Raising children on a standard income can be done. I do it. I am a single father with two children. I get 350$ a month and save 20% of my income despite the fact half my money goes to daycare and mortgage. People want everything when in truth they need little.
M.L. I do not know how much you make, but if possible I would recommend the earlier comment of you being the bread winner and your husband the saver. Save ALL his money if possible. I know someone who lives in a 2 bedroom house on 16$ an hour. It is all about managing expectations.
If you have any debt pay it off
Evaluate your needs versus wants. There are so many wants we don’t really need. We do not need big vacations nor giant Christimases. Be frugal and explore your own area or state.
Most importantly if you really want a child with your husband DO NOT let the other woman dictate your family. Check with the state also most judges take into consideration other children in determine child support. He has to pay for them as well.
Love each other unconditionally and support each other through all things. Your happiness is in your hands.
Sassy
Some people do use child support as a weapon. They want all they can get as much as they can get. It is not about what is best for the children. They spend the money on clothes, phones, trips and the like. The poor child gets left in the middle between a parent who pays and gets seldom seen and another who cares more about the money for them-self than the child they helped conceive.
@Yana: How nice that you are able to support the kids yourself. But here’s the thing: Not everyone can.
Sometimes the custodial parent’s wages don’t cover the basics. It’s a question of survival — and, in MY personal opinion, what the man (or woman) is supposed to do, i.e., help support the children s/he brought into the world.
@Donna – I had a poverty-level income. I had little financial or practical support. Anyone who could not provide what I did in the early days ought to seek public assistance or give custody to someone who can. I made the most of what I had. When my child’s dad took her for a visit, he paid whatever expenses were incurred. That is what I call child support. You support your child who is in your custody, whether temporarily or permanently. You are (should be!) the master of your own life and your income, and hopefully you act responsibly. Paying one’s ex is not supporting a child, but it absolutely can interfere with being able to support your own child when you have that child in your care. Why is it that “deadbeat dads” are so irresponsible – criminal, even – but the moms are exceedingly loving, caring and responsible by pointing the finger and trying to extract money for whatever purpose they wish to use it? It can go the same for a female absent parent, but that isn’t usually the case. Someone before commented that a woman should RUN from a man with kids by another woman, and that pretty much reflects our child-unfriendly society and child support laws. And incidentally, just one more reason that abortion must remain legal. I’m also one who prefers that the law and government stay out of people’s personal lives, and people should be responsible for their own actions and choices. Who married the jerks? Above all, if a woman (because only women can bear children) doesn’t want to have, raise or support a child, she should not have one.
@Yana: Again, not everyone is responsible. Some custodial parents never see the ex again (like my relative) and thus cannot get even the small amount of “support” that comes from the non-custodial parent taking the child for a visit.
“Who married the jerks?” Surely you’re not serious. Have you never known anyone who married a person who later showed his/her true colors?
Incidentally, not every custodial parent uses the money for herself/himself. Plenty of them are using it on the child’s medical expenses, food, clothing, etc.
The point I was trying to make in asking “Who married the jerks?” is personal responsibility. I’m a believer in that. Someone who makes a mistake involving a spouse showing true colors later is still responsible for his own choice. It’s a gamble, for sure. When I took a big leap of faith with my current husband early in the relationship, well, it was a leap of faith. But it was my leap and my choice, completely. It was a winning gamble, but I would still be responsible for my choice if it hadn’t been. Life’s a gamble! I just hate the idea of somebody’s life being ruined because they made a baby, because the law is involved in child support issues. I think most of the time, the children and accused parent suffer the most. I would never have wanted my child to think she was such a burden, and all about money. She wasn’t. And I wouldn’t have wanted her to have an attitude toward her dad that he was the guy we got money from, and that is what he was good for. He was the dad she loved, and who loved her. To each his own, but that’s the way I wanted it. And incidentally, I was also responsible for marrying that guy, having our child and wanting to raise her solely, without joint custody or anything like that. I like the responsibility I choose to take, because it means I am free and I have authority. I would afford that to anyone – but as you say, some people are not responsible and shun responsibility. It’s true. I don’t understand it, really. When somebody says, “The devil made me do it”, I think they are negating their own personhood. If they are not choosing who they are and what they do, they cannot have any authority, even over themselves. Not talking about the original subject, just rambling ;)
M.L,
Sorry for your situation, I never got child support from my dad and my mom had to do it all by her lonesome. When I did live with my dad due emergency reasons she kicked me out real quick so your tolerance, love and dedication to me is admirable seeing how some “step-xxx” do not have a lick of those above mentioned qualities. In regards to savings it really is all about budgets and sticking to them, downsizing and accomadating on behalf of both of you (which truly sucks considering that none of what’s going on is your fault) I’m not sure if I read about investing?, maybe buy little stocks to make some extra cents a year or if you’ve saved a good amount maybe a cd? If anything to make the dollar and situation work for you. Please remember that you should save for you even if he can’t right now and I’m sorry about that, make sure you save for retirement, save for yourself and in a non-related $ issue, if you want to have kids in the future (you did say you didn’t have them due to the situation) was this something you spoke to him about? Doesn’t sound fair) umm ok, every dollar counts, every invested penny is more money be it big or small, and hang in there girl, your doing good morally and budget wise it seems. Sorry for the ramble…
Most states have a max %, but it is undeniably his responsibility to support his kids.
However, I absolutely disagree that he should be paying more based on the activities of the children. If the mother wants them in expensive activities, she should be footing the bill with her own income and what she is already receiving in child support….. that’s what it’s for.
I have not read every post, but I need some immediate gratification by posting.
If there is a good relationship between the parents then, I would think that there would be communication about extracurricular activities to ensure what each parent can afford. Especially when you are expecting them to take part in the expenses. Not every child needs to be in every activity.
I would never think to go back to court to get these costs. Heck, I don’t even go after the out of pocket expenses for medical (the Judge never even gave us a breakdown for these expenses) or dance classes. I can’t be bothered because #1 – I don’t like him; #2 I don’t feel like have to discuss everything that I want to enrol her in with him. I pay for it on my own if I can afford it because I can’t always ensure that he will have a job nor do I want to feel like I depend on someone to “make it.”
Plus, every time I go back my Judge does the opposite. He practically kisses him on the mouth because he was Army Reserve in Iraq, lowers his child support obligation, and gives him a pat on the behind and sends us out the door (with me looking at my lawyer bill thinking “WTF?”). When I finally got my Judge to add in my childcare expenses of $1K per month (at the time), and I got my support LOWERED again (this time by $13; $220 the first time) because he lowered Dad’s earning potential. I gave up at that point because no matter what I am the “stable” earner and he gets to flitter.
I am not bitter, nope, not me! Not bitter at all. =o)
Haha, appreciate you sharing your story with us though! Hope things get better! :)
I can understand that the kids need to be taken vare of…. However, why is it that the mother can keep taking the father back to court for more money even though she has about $130,000 in assets and cash, while the father has about $2,000 in assests??? And how is it fair that the father should have to pay for the childs insurance when he makes 3 times less that what she does???
Personally I feel that most women/men just feel the need to screw over their ex/parent of the child just because they know they can or because they want to!! I think it is a discrace and someone should put a stop to it! If the parent with sole custody is better off and has way more money than the parent paying support, then they need to reduce their c.s. payments and not require them to pay all of the insurance. It just makes more since. If anything, give the kids to the parent with less money and have the other pay them money!!
Also, I was wondering how often can you taken someone to court to re-do child support?? I think every 3 to 6 months is crazy!! At least thats how often we go!
My husband has a 35 years old daughter and he still pay childsupport and they put a lien on my home did not let us know.Now they want 33,000 and raied his payments. I was told I had to divoice him to get my home back.
WOW. I don’t even know what to say to that. I hope things get better!!
@Prenup- Its easy to say that but Ive noticed that they always count te non costodial parents spouces income, however they never count the coustiodal parents spouces income. I don’t think that is in anyway right!! If your gonna count one then you should count the other as well when determining cs. Child support and their guidelines are retarded and need to be reevaluated!!!!
@m.white- Why is your husband still paying c.s. on a 35 year old??? And, they only put leins on your house if your not paying like you should.
My daughters father will have to keep paying child support until she is 28 years old (if he continues on the current payback). That is because he is only paying $100 per month to the arrears. I can also put a lien on his apt to ensure that I am paid the arrears before he takes any profit.
If I were a man…I wouldn’t touch a woman with a TEN FOOT POLE!!! Don’t do it guys…most women are vindictive and don’t want their kid NEARLY as much as they want your money!!!!! I hear blow up dolls are getting more ralistic!! Women suck…they’re vampires who do wait in the cover of night to pounce on you as soon as it looks like your not suffering…and woe unto you if you get remarried!!!
Child support is nothing more than legalized extortion from men. It doesn’t take near the amount of money the corrupt court systems contrive, then rule awarded, to raise a kid. It makes me sick to think of all the money guys get screwed out of just for having a kid every year. To make matters worse many times the women just plays a victim card and sits on her ass and does as little as possible while sucking off of the man as much as she possibly can for as long as she possibly can. Now that’s repulsive.
Men are better off having one or two and getting a vasectomy in confidence. There will be no more so called “obligations” and it’s a nice way to nail the worthless all too often incredulous, cheater should she get knocked up again. Most women are not trust worthy to the full extent so plan on forking it over if you happen to be stupid enough to get semi or permanently involved and not take responsibility for contraception yourself. Sometimes they’ll lie about that just to get knocked up, use caution.
Your situation calls for action! Use every evasive procedure you can. Have him get the lowest paying job he is qualified for and hold it for the duration of the extortion (Child support). Let them base it off of that if at all possible. Take some under the table work immediately. Construction, insurance sales, car detailing, waiting tables, delivering pizza (TIPS) and any other cash projects that don’t include a W2 or W9 form. Take this money and or checks and cash them at a bank and don’t deposit the funds. Never deposit the funds anywhere and keep them at home in a coffee can or safe area. Working under the table is the best bet for keeping her leeching to a minimum. Rentals are good as well, just have someone else claim the money or get paid in cash. Farms (baling hay, picking fruit, milking cows), farmers markets (sell livestock, produce and crafts), ebay anything untraceable. Keep it off the books and out of accounts until your hardship sentence is over.
I agree. I’m a woman making CS payments for equal time 50/50 with their dad. He makes no money, so I get screwed over because he has no education.
There are other ways to minimize the damage that a support order can inflict to one financially.
Be as proactive as you can before getting an order established if possible. If you really want to avoid it from becoming a order disappear for several years before they can serve you. Most States will not place an order if they can’t get a DNA test. Move constantly (every 4-6 mos) for a decade or better with no utilities and/or mailing address. It’s not as hard as you think and you’ll get to travel and make friends all over. Just live off a minimum and save all the money you can. If you are cornered and can’t run move to a location with the best laws for YOU. Be sure you don’t wind up somewhere that lets her suck you for money while they go to college too! Be sure to live in a State where the age of majority is 18. Make sure the State doesn’t credit for daycare or anything other than base support. Run several calculators and see where the thresholds are for income and look for hidden deductions in the State’s formula manuals. You have to know the law to beat it if you can.
Hide and protect assets immediately if facing a support case/order. If you have real-estate market it before arrears are ordered (especially if they are imminent, it takes time for a lien to go through you have about 2 months time to liquidate it before they can snatch it). Sell it via auction if you have to, to move it fast; you may lose 25-35% but that’s nothing compared to all or most of it if the leech get’s it. Don’t deposit the money, keep it somewhere safe and say you lost it gambling if you get cornered on it. You can buy later ;for now, just be happy with renting or working for rent at an apartment complex as a caretaker etc, or with family or friends. Anything to save money and keep real valuable things out of your name. Some States will not let them seize your primary residence under a certain value. It’s worth spending $100 or calling legal aid to grill an attorney about laws and loop holes to find them and exploit them. College roomies are fun and usually cheap. Look around campuses if you can stand the crowd; otherwise go rural.
Once you get hit with support you can do little to avoid getting leeched. You can minimize the losses however.
Side jobs (greenhouses, farms, construction, handyman, computer service etc), pay pal, ebay, on line money making, rentals, self employment is great use an llc and an attorney to minimize the leeching.
Constantly be a little late or behind to make it look like you have a hard tiem making the current order. If you always make it on time and they get the money they will inevitably want more and more. You have to almost go to jail a few times to avoid getting it raised. they want to make you suffer and make you pay. They don’t’ want you to have it easy or be able to meet your obligation.
Consider going to another nation that will not deport you legally before getting behind. You can start over. Consider stripping, selling drugs or doing whatever you need to do to get more cash. You could off her but that won’t do much good if you get caught and of course “I’m joking.
I’ll continue this later.
You’re a little harsh there, OtsegoMI, but if you read my previous comments, you know I agree with you in principle. I like your instruction to say you lost it gambling – it is good for them to think you are a loser! Sadly, though, what all this brings to mind is that without even dropping our pants, we are subject to getting more screwed by the medical system in America, and your advice ought to be considered and expanded upon for self-defense in that area.
I think child support is the biggest joke there is. The laws need to change in a major way. First, if you were married or not, I think custody should be split 50/50 unless the parents live in different states or the kid(s) is at the age to decide which parent they want to live with. And with that there should be no support. Things should be split straight down the middle unless the man..or woman shows they cannot handle their responsibilities. See I believe the man or woman will show their colors when the rubber meets the road. Once that happens then the courts can take corrective action.
I did this with my ex 50/50 on everything. But when it came time for him to pay half of dr bills, extra curricular activities, insurance etc. he flat out refuses. So in theory this would be great if the other person does what’s right. I have provided receipts for everything and never see his half. He says I just want his money but the crazy thing is that I already paid these things I am asking for half and he says I want his money! Its insane. I have never received a dime from him but if he has her and has to take her to the doctor on the insurance I provide I pay him half of that expense even though he is not paying his half. I do this so when we do end up in court I can honestly say that I have always paid for my child while he has not.
For someone that did not live with her daughter’s Dad, I am not down with 50-50. Not every child can handle that type of inconsistency.
Child support is not JUST for supporting their daily needs, it also covers their portion of housing, electricity, water, gas, etc.
If one parent earns $25K and the other makes $125K, splitting 50-50 is ridiculous.
If you are hit with a support order there are a few other things you may consider to stop being screwed by the system.
One is to change your identity and move on either in the US or elsewhere. Sometimes this is a viable option if you have no family or friends you want to keep in touch with. A fake ID and SS number is easier to come by than you think and is worth its weight in gold to avoid debts and charges of all kinds. If your prints are in the system you have to commit to a life of non-illegal activity because if the fat cat finds out you’ll be facing additional charges.
Another option if you want the kid(s) is to take them from her legally by proving her unfit. Remember she didn’t mind screwing you so perhaps you can return the favor. Imagine what would happen if she got pulled over because someone anonymously called the police and told them the driver of such and such vehicle had a gun and was pointing it at you or some kids and took off down the road. When they search the vehicle and find a large sum of narcotics or some other illegal items under the seat that won’t look too good in family court now will it? Of course it’s even better if her prints are on the bag (trash is everywhere right). Remember to stay anonymous and even better use a voice changer and a payphone with no cameras or a disguise walking in. This may require some work but it’s fool proof. Most people forget to lock things at night and are creatures of habit after all.
Bottom line is the system is nasty sometimes guys are victims of unfair laws and have to be proactive.
A few more words on moving on with a new ID. For US people this will require some connections (think Mexicans, and other foreigner communities). Be sure to drop everything and everyone, liquidate everything and you’ll have to start over completely never to return to your previous life, accounts, home, or anything else. Protective custody if you will.
For an Ex Pat trying to escape the system in a foreign land is a good option if you have some skills. Sometimes obtaining documents is easier in these places too. Again, no connections of any kind to your previous life. Pick up a skip trace book and read it a few times to get the drift of what this involves. This is for the person that is serious about getting away.
Remember if you have back support due you can’t get a passport and won’t be able to leave the country. However, remember too that once your paid up you can go freely. You’ll just need to stay gone if that’s your plan and have a good plan and some travelers checks and cash to keep yourself that a way.
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There are other problems with the system as well. They will try to get you to pay medical, dental, psychological and any other services they deem “needed”.
You can avoid these “obligations” by simply not having the coverage available. If you don’t have it through work or are self employed or its too expensive your order will likely be increased be a few percentage points but this fact can save you tons of money in the long run from a sleezy ex that just wants to rack up bills for you. Make them carry the coverage by claiming its too expensive for you and don’t carry it on dependents at work. Simply elect not to take it and buy your coverage somewhere else that they don’t’ know about. Remember the less they know about you the better.
Avoid facebook, myspace and linkd so you don’t have your face, location and/or resume floating around for people to find you.
While there is some ways to completely avoid support orders many times they require intense effort on your part, may be slightly illegal, and may not be for everyone. The best bet is to be proactive and avoid the situation in the first place. If you can run and not be served paperwork do it! You need to stay ahead of them and never let them catch you. Once the kid(s) are older you can slow down and enjoy life again. Otherwise, plan on paying if you have an order in place, or it’s pending the best thing you can do is minimize the bleeding or change your identity.
Remember Mexican’s cross the border everyday by the hoards. It’s not that hard to go the other way if you need to, even without a passport. Think of the giant border to the North as well. Canada is full of hiding places and under the table work. Staying in the US is a good option too but most don’t have what it takes to get the ID and the discipline to completely leave everything behind…I mean completely.
Personally, I don’t want the kid(s) so I don’t want to get custody but for those that do you can do it with some clever “innovation.” Otherwise, you may well be screwed. Taking temporary jobs is also a nice excuse in court for why your income changes and may allow you more freedom and flexibility.
I don’t have much more to say about this but I feel for every poor guy that gets screwed by the most unfair system there is.
I’m a little confused about the jurisdiction, no matter where the decree was origionally placed, the rules apply where the child resides. My husband & ex-wife were divorced in one state, their son grew up in another state, but they moved during his high school years to a third state. That move was great for us bc it meant one less year of paying child support. It’s money now that we can give directly to him to help with college.
Kids understand more than they let on… they definately figure things out, just as their son did that his mother cheated and left and married the other man.
Distance stinks, we did it stationed overseas… all he can do is be the best dad he can be regardless of the miles. Cards, letters and calls go along way.
Regardless, so glad you got a modification.. I hope you can breathe a little easier now and you can make your decision regarding possible future children without this stress hanging over you. My husband and I have two…I wouldn’t change them for the world, no matter how lean in the finance department it was for a few years for us, we never regret the decision to have children anyways.
Best of luck to you.
Andrea, thank you for the kind words.
The law is very interesting regarding jurisdiction. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act was enacted in 2007 and basically states that as long as one parent remains in the state that the original decree was filed – that state retains jurisdiction. If my husband and I also move out of this state, jurisdiction is transferred to the home state of the kids but ONLY after the original state agrees to give up jurisdiction. This stops custodial parents from moving from state to state trying to get a better arrangement. It also prevents multiple custody/CS documents from being filed in multiple states.
Perhaps this law wasn’t in place during your situation?
Either way, it’s been a saving grace for us and I love to hear from someone who’s been there and done that and survived!!
Most definately wasn’t in place. It’s great to read that there was something enacted that benefits the noncustodial parent. Thank goodness it was there to help your situation.
my story is similar to many written here. The difference is my husband’s ex wife is an eye doctor with her own practice. She hired her boyfriend to work there, also an eye doctor. We suspect she is hiding her income by paying her boyfriend more money in salary. She is now wanting my husband to pay for college and according to her two years of health insurance she claims we didnt pay.
my husband has been paying child support and providing health insurance to his daughters since they divorced. We have gone through unemployement for almost a year (both of us at the same time) and nw we are trying to catch up in paying off all our debt incurred due to unemployement. We have no money saved for retirement and my son’s future.
As is wife, I am angrey and bitter at his ex wife because she could afford to pay for their college. She has brain wash their children to the point that there is no relationship between father and daughters for many years. In the state of nj it is required that we pay for child support until they are 23 – 24 years old.
I don’t think it is fair that we have to go through this since we try to do thinks right for a very long time. The truth is the ex wife is a money hungry woman and can’t see her ex husband live his life. And she has a house that is worth over a million dollars!
I’m so glad things are going better!! And that you all are discussing back and forth here – that’s great :) Love seeing people helping each other!
A second job is STUPID!!!! all that will do is INCREASE the time away from your family and INCREASE your income so they take more – they only way to beat it is to get a job off the books. It doesnt matter what she gets wind of, b/c she has to be able to PROVE it in court… and as there is no paper record of it, thats pretty hard to do. It doesnt matter what you know its what you can prove. I am all for supporting the child but these women are greedy and selfish – and they use their children as their meal ticket. If you have a job making $12/hr and you are driving a $50,000 car there is something wrong with that – child support is not meant to be a JOB. They system is flawed and these women need to be taught a lesson.
Such generalizations! These women who? For as many women that get tons of money there are a lot more that don’t get enough or anything at all. I, for one, am the bread winner in my scenario. He pays support and I certainly don’t eat filet mignon. His money is a bonus since it is certainly not to be relied upon to come in a timely manner. Let’s not generalize about all women and lesson teaching. Nothing gets my feathers more ruffled.
Every situation is different! I thing when you decide to have children you have to know that they come with a lifetime comitment. Most of the CS laws are fair. Some people just choose not to take the time to understand them. I have 4 children 60 percent of the time and my ex has them 40 percent. He makes more money than I make and he pays 600 dollars a month. He was only paying 389 for a long time…… He had time and money to rent a nice little place for him and the kids and didnt. Instead spent all his extra cash on travaling and living a “single man” life style which to me is “STUPID” He lived with his mom, and had the kids cramped into a bedroom, while I bought a house and made a home for my children. He then decided to take on a swing shift job; He was never there for the kids and never provided a space for the children. NOW that to me is selfish. After 8 months of asking nicely to please make changes to his situation, I gott tired of waiting for this moron to make a change for the best interest of the kids and filled for more custody of the kids, I was greanted the 60 percent and now his paying 615. The Dude is having a heart attack about it, and Im like WTF, you had time to get yuor shit together and you decided not to. So now move th F out of my way so I can provide for theese kids. One man alone with out re-marying should be able to provide for him self with a very small amount of money. The courts dont believe that you will be stupid enough to marry or have more kids thats why they make the laws they way that they do!
Boy, I thought we had it rough having to pay out $48,000 over a full 18 years on one kid. We had a good attorney and refused to pay the “extraordinary expenses.” She was only allowed to ask for a modification every three years and only got it once because of our wheeling and dealing with the good attorney and a judge that was a family friend.
Of course we didn’t make a lot of money, but no way I would ever marry another man who was paying child support, especially if my income was considered.
I forgot to mention we live in Texas. We were not made to pay insurance either. Child support is so unfair. It is to pay for the mother’s lifestyle more than the kids.
I don’t even want to think how much we would’ve had to pay out if we had to pay for insurance, extra expenses, daycare, dental, co-pays, and didn’t have a good team on our side.
$48,000 over 18 years comes out to be about $222 a month. Take away about $7,000 that my husband’s parents paid for us because they thought it was so unfair, then the amount we actually paid was $41,000.
For the ex wived who side with 60%….. Go ahead, keep typing why he left yo ass in the furst place because his best intrest is a non factor in your opinon. You dont seem to mind that someone you claimed to love wont be able to move on and be a great father if he is still grumoy behind your decisions!! If you decided you wanted to move on should you pay him? Should you be forced to pay whatever the court says because he is bitter about the fact you two arent right for each other? File separate taxes, sign a prenup that omit u from financial responsibility. If you think he wont be there mentally and physical, u r justified, if u know he alway been there and do it to hurt the new wife you are super foul and pathetic. Go get ur own man, cant handle your bills? Let them live with Dad and u pay support then! Oh you dont wanna trade huh! Somebody should go file joint custody and joint child support for 6 months swapping the kids since its gotta be organized and impersonal
I am a divorced mom of 4 beautiful children. I could say so much here but do not know where to begin… (ex is in breach of contract)… The one thing I will say right now, is that in the state that we were divorced, it states that CS be paid until the child is of age 21..and/or, the age of 22 years old (if still attending college.) I am going to post again soon. After reading all of this, I feel horrible. Children are innocent, and every action and descision made should be in the best interest of our children.
Child Support is just a flawed system that was built on good intentions. In Texas, if you had a 60k a year job while you were married, and then lose said job after divorcing, then you’d still be required to pay the same percentage amount as if you had the 60k a year job. It takes 3 years of not having the same income to get the child support modified. I look at it this way, if you had lost the job while you were married then the whole family (including the children) would take a hit, so what’s the difference when you’re divorced. Child Support should not be given to custodial parents as “free money”, because that’s exactly what it is. It should be distributed as “food stamps”, school meal tickets, clothing. Texas now gives custodial parents debit cards to spend the money more easily and they can be spent anywhere on anything that the custodial parent wants. Try requiring the custodial parents to report their child care expenses and the crap that child support is used for would cause several killings. Just off the top of my head, child support should be broken down into percentages for needs (i.e. 40% food for child, 40% clothing, 10% hygiene, 10% extra-curricular). I strongly feel the piece of mind non-custodial parents would have from knowing what their child support was going to would help the whole situation. If the ex-spouses were married then each party would be entitled to a decision as to where money went to, right? Why should that change when they divorce? Of course something like this would never happen, it makes too much sense. Thanks for reading.
Apparently we all here are believing that it takes more money for his two kids to live than himself.
That, despite that they have a shared residence and living expenses of their mother.
Something that gets swept under the rug is, IT DOES NOT.
The actual expenses of the two children cannot be possibly 130% of your husband’s income.
I say 130%, because the other parent should be spending half of what it costs to raise the kids. If you pro rate it for that, then it is costing 30% more than your husband makes to raise these kids.
I do not believe it.
What is actually happening here is, it costs a lot less to raise these kids, and the mother is pocketing the rest.
But we are institutionally prevented from knowing this, because there is no right to see where the expenses are going.
This is a hole in the system. A non-custodial parent should never have to pay more than half of the ACTUAL expenses of his children. Anything else imposed upon him is forced socialism.
You are inexperienced with rearing children and can not possibly know what money is involved. You are only 26 in time you will know. I don’t believe that you are “friends” with the ex-wife or you wouldn’t be trying to sabotage her support to raise her children. The mother loves her kids and why shouldn’t they go to all the classes they can go to? The father was not absent in their creation. You are just whining ! Because you can’t have your husbands money go toward you and future children of your own. To see lawyers on this thread say you should take the issue to court is ridiculous. Unbelievable.
Pocketing the rest of the money! really Gary? Ha I raised 3 children with out the help of their father believe you me there is no left over money when raising children. You do it because you are obligated and mature enough to handle it.Obviously. Remember if he left her he will leave you and if he deserted his children and bitches about supporting them monetarily someday you will be understanding all of this. So watch what you say you will eat it. Bon Appetit !
I feel for you. Not all parents are able to put their kids first and some women feel entitled to have their own money and half or more of their ex’s too. I too am a step Mom and I love my step daughter dearly but I have to admit the ongoing shananigans of her mother make it difficult to feel love for the child. Sad but true! I don’t understand anyone that thinks they should be able to sit on their ass and continue to leech from their ex. We have the child exactly 50% of the time and the ex is remarried and chooses to stay home with her “new children” so according to the table in our state her income is 0 which goes against ours. The harder my man works the more he pays even though the costs of raising the child do NOT go up because his income does. Note to men out there single, in a relationship or married protect yourself DO NOT RELY on your partner for birth control protection. You will pay and continue paying for 20plus years! I just have to hope that regardless of the brainwashing like attempts our smart little girl will one day see her mother for the person she is. Way to go all you step moms and dads out there that love and care for the kids caught in these situations THEY ARE whats truly important.
That is so messed up. 60%? Wow! That said we’ve been thru the ringer ourselves. Court, child support increase, custody issues because she won’t let us see the children. My daughter gets really hurt by it because she loves her brothers. This is what I know
1) Your income should NOT count as his EVER. If you bought a business then they could ONLY count his part of the income from it.
2) He doesn’t have to worry about reporting his income. Why? Because they will NOT back charge him. He only owes what he already owes until its changed through court. Once he’s served(most people try to dodge it) and shows up for court. Then he reports his income and only then does he start owing that amount.
3) Overtime shouldn’t count because it’s “unreliable income”. Heard a judge say that exact thing during my husbands child support hearing.
4) He’s paying way too much and he should take her to court to lower it. Goodluck and hang in there!!!
Your task is challenging. And its a never ending battle. There is no doubt that you support your husband and are intent on maintaining the welfare of your step children. But I’m in the same situation as you with my husband. The only difference is that my husband owed back child support due to his business going under but he failed to disclose this important information to me prior to marriage. Nonetheless, I married all of him when I said, “I do”. It is difficult when it seems that you work so hard to meet your own living standards and then the custodial parent decides to go to court to increase the payment. And now you are back where you started. In my situation, my husbands ex chooses not to work (her kids are school age and high school) for whatever reason. I have paid thousands thus far and am sure because of how she chooses not to work, I will pay more as my husband works a side job while he rebuilds his business.
I don’t believe divorce ends parental responsibility. I believe both biological parents are responsible for the welfare of the child. And I’m aware that there are deadbeat fathers and deadbeat mothers out there that need a strong hand. But what about the good men and women who have been diligent in paying but run into financial misfortune, that get dragged through the mud (courts) despite their past good record. Yes, you can go to court and modify your payments but what if those payments are even a struggle? But I would like to know why are these women and men who have full custody of a child allowed to not contribute financially (have a job) to their child’s welfare? Don’t get me wrong, it takes more then money to raise a child but in my husband case, his ex wife fought my husband in court to have custody of the kids, yet, she chooses not to work (she went to college and worked. But decided not to work once she and my husband divorced). If I had my way, we would have custody of the kids and refuse any financial support from her. She could see them whenever she wishes. I know, wishful thinking. Lol.
But I will say that I agree with most. Budget with only your income, don’t consider his. This is what I’ve done since day one. It may exhaust your funds but its comforting in the end to know that there is stable income to pay for your own needs. Whatever extra he may have, should be saved in an IRA or 401k, however little that may be. Fortunately, I have a pension that was established prior to my marriage) and, I was able to save quite a lot prior to marriage (I stopped contributing to this account once we married and it remains a part of my assets only, per my lawyers advice). And I suggest you retain the services of an aggressive family court lawyer who will keep yours and your step children’s best interest in mind. Lastly, if you want to have a child, don’t let this keep you from doing so. The last thing you want is to regret not recognizing your needs and wants. Most likely, having a child might be even more of a blessing then you think.
My husband and I are in the same boat. We have been married for almost teo years. He was not working for about a year. That means yoou have to pay back child support boo! My husband is paying on two kids and one is 16 and he never gets to see because of the wife. It really sucks we still have to pay on him. He said if he does’t the mom will tell him he didn’t want him. It is screwed up all the way around. I hope when he turns 18 and his sister tells him everything that happened he can choose to see his dad if he wants. All we can do I guess is keep paying and its all about karma baby. What goes aroound comes around.
Ok just to throw another story in the mix and see some thoughts on it here we go:
I have 2 kids by 2 different mothers both of which I separated from them for reasons I would feel most people would separate for. I lived in a tri-state area. 2 kids 2 different states. Neither state recognizes the other for child support. I am happily married now with a 3rd child. When ex 2 heard I was getting married she jumped on child support and stopped letting me see my child. The first child the court left it up to her if I could see my child or not. Keep in mind I was involved with my 2nd child. The first I found out about her later on in life. There has never been any abuse or anything reported or anything against me in my life. I’m a normal guy who works hard and wants a family. I work for more than minimum wage which i’m pointing out because i’ll let you know how little I make now later in this post. When ex 2 went for child support she had been to my house a billion times.I have pictures to prove this by the way but for some reason my court date and papers on this whole matter ended up at a random place in my state signed for by a random person.So I missed my court date. I got hit with 10,000 in backed child support from day 1. They did not recognize my other child. I had proof of my other child I had proof of me being with her and paying bills and buying things for the child and being the only income in the house and still pretty much was though she still lived with her parents. I didn’t get to voice any of this so I filed to appeal to tell my side of the story to maybe get this lowered. I was shot down for the appeal. I had no rights to my child to see them and was paying a lot of money. I went back to court finally after filing for 2 years for rights to see my child. It took another year to set any visitation up. By this time my child doesn’t really remember me. My ex even on court appointed visits doesn’t even bring my child anymore (which i drive 3 hours to see my child ) she sends texts stating she won’t be there because she believes its hurting my child to see me. I’m the father. I have scheduled calls and have yet to talk to my daughter 1 time. The lawyer was friends with my ex’s brother which at one time was a lawyer but can no longer practice law. I now with child support bring in less than $500 a month. my rent is $595. I get food from churches and whatever else to feed my wife and child. Child support laws were put into effect in a time when men could support a whole household and housewives were everywhere. Its a new time these laws should be changed. Do I have a problem with paying to take care of my child? no. I do have a problem paying for everything for both kids and myself and my wife and my other child???? yes. Neither parent has a job or is willing. The law states after the kid is in kindergarden the father is attributed 50% of the support the other parent is supposed to get a job and do 50% as well… well again denied for this as well. The judge whos name is actually signed and stamped all over the order said his/her name is not on the order. They will do nothing i’m in limbo… anyone have any ideas of how i’m going to live?
and to add more I lost a house, and several jobs because my paycheck came back 0.00 after 1 state was double dipping also that same state took all of the support so more support for state 2 and never gives them my tax returns. which they are supposed to alternate…I can’t afford to go to a dr and get the medication i need for panic attacks as well so i just live with those as well. just thinking about this destroys my world every single day. The thought that some have it worse than me makes me get up in the mornings.
My husband has been faithfully paying his child support for the past 15 years. Our last payment is June 2012. I have always supported the fact that he had to pay child support. What didn’t seem fair was that the girls were with us from Thursday to Sunday – every week, we paid for many lunches, haircuts (because she wouldn’t) child care, school clothing and much more. We lived in an old run down appartment while she had new vehicles, snowmobiles, camper and a great big house. She hardly gave the girls any money nor did she put any away. We couldn’t put anything away for them because she was getting a big chunk of change. She took us to court many times and got more and more…but it wasn’t for the kids, it was so she could spend more on herself! IN SOME CASES, it should be written in the divorce decree that the mother needs to put some money aside for the kids – provided she can of course! Not all circumstances are like the one I’ve described. My two cents worth!!!
I understand that child support is needed, but regardless if you have children or not you still are responsible to pay rent, utilities bills, car payment (if you choose to have one)..and so on. My husband has 2 children from a previous relationship and we have 3 together. She is now receiving more than half of his take home pay. The only way the courts will deviate from the guidelines is if he is paying child support for our 3 children. What is the difference if he is married supporting the kids or divorced and paying child support? Does this mean we should get a divorce and he pay me child support?? Mean while his ex has had two more children with her boyfriend, she hasn’t had to work for the last 7 years, and receives food stamps…oh and did I mention she drives around in a 2008 Chevy Tahoe with rims and she also has a 2005 chevy Tahoe. Whenever we see the kids their clothes are stained and old and they don’t look well kept, but their mother always has her hair and nails done and wears the lastest fashion. My husband has never missed a child support payment and is now being treated like a dead beat dad. My husband and his ex made an agreement on the amount of child support he would pay while in court, but a month later she went back to court and lied stating that my husband’s failure to comply (which was untrue b/c the support taken out automatically from his paycheck) was willful and now he is paying $2000 a month for child support for 2 kids, which is making it impossible for us to pay the necessary bills. I am hitting so many dead ends and am so frustrated with the system. Why work when you can’t support yourself. We have put in for an objection, but it’s been almost 60 days and haven’t heard anything. We are in the process of filing a petition for modification, but in the mean time we are falling behind in bills. Not sure what else to do.
I wrote earlier and forgot to mention…There’s this woman who gets child support from her ex…she’s always claiming she is “broke”, yet her boyfriend(who doesn’t work) lives with her. She bought herself a new car as soon as the child support checks started coming in…and recently bought the “boyfriend” a car also!!! How is she able to do this, if she is always “broke”???!!!
It all comes around. It is kind of funny, all the damage boys do to females, in the end the female can do as much damage back. If not more. HUGE lesson not to be selfish people. It is easier to live alone with a pet nowadays, it is extreme work to stay in a committed relationship. uuuuuug. I don’t want to get married. or have kids. All these stories are pathetic!
Iagree. Trouble is guys are still inflicting lots of emotional damage to both wives and all their kids. Now they argue about money. So much to not support serial monogimist.
These guys eventually give up, as soon as wife two or three gets fed up with his haraum of breeding females.
Too bad for him. These men are unstable and like this attention. Usually the tug of kid and money war ends up between his women, but kids get hurt.
Wish I had known and at w3 got blinded by a serial marriage deserter. Sucks.
37 year marriage 4 kids and he repeated history..probably during our marriage too.
Yea, I filed AFTER our kids were grown. I knew he was a toot after a short while…decided to stay for them,all ours. Wish I hadn’t.
They suffered greatly by his self centered behavior.
Try having your husband earn a commission income and his CS only being based on his highest quarter of the year not the entire year. So on an average he pays 45% of his net income in CS for 1 child. This doesn’t seem ridiculous, right. Well he has 2 children living in our home with us that they don’t account for because there’s no CS order for them. Can we get a CS order for them in order to have the other order reduced to take the 2 children in the home in account. No, because they live with both parents is what we’re told. Apparently, the 1 child not in the home is more important than the 2 children in the home. FYI just venting here the whole system is messed up.
I’m also on each side here, but mainly at the moment I’m afraid. I have four children, all of them I had very young (20 when the youngest was born). Yes I made mistakes, but all of that is over now and the children are here, so please no “you should have thought of that….” stuff. Situation…The children have 3 different dads. The oldest one’s (16) father has paid a grand total of $700 since he’s been born. The second one’s (15) father paid a total of $200 until he was 5, at which time he took me to court and won custody (we now have joint, with him being primary) My other two, 11 & 13, belong to my husband of 14 1/2 years. Unfortunately, all of the baby making I was doing kept me at home with kids and not in school due to child are expenses. My husband has no formal education including diploma or GED. He is now working 79 hours a week just to pay bills and buy groceries. My son’s father never asked for support, so when my son came to live with me for 3 years, I did not either, I just continued to struggle and do without for them. But then my son wanted to move back to his father’s, which is cool as I felt he was old enough to decide. He then stopped calling me, stopped answering his phone, and would not return my calls. I received NO call on mother’s day even! Then two weeks after mothers day he called and asked to meet with me. I was so excited, then I found out he only wanted to meet with me so that he could ask for me to pay for half of basketball camp. I told him I would do my best, but deep down knew there was no way I could come up with it. Then I get no more phone calls and a child support petition.
Now to why this scares me…I currently work only 4 hours a day because I am in school full time for a dual medical degree. But also, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis back in 2008 and have since had a severe relapse causing severe fatigue and heat sensitivity. This in itself limits the jobs that I can work. Then taking into account my cognitive difficulties, I am having a very hard time in school, and was going to leave work so that I could focus completely on school. I need a very high GPA for employers to consider me even with my limitations, and I WILL fail courses if I have to work too. That happened to me last semester and I have to take my classes from that semester over again. I have no fatigue in the mornings, but it’s extremely rare to get an employer to “give” you morning shift and the only way I can get a good private practice job is if I can get to the top of my class.
I will struggle through this, but I already have to take my children to goodwill for school clothes. My son’s father makes about 3,200 AFTER TAX, I make 720 a month before taxes. Paying an extra $100 a month will most certainly make my other children go without a few meals. His father has 3 brand new vehicles, one they just bought my 15 year old who won’t even be 16 until next year. They bought him a brand new ipod4, $700 worth of brand new school clothes. They go to the local amusement park every month, to the beach every other weekend, and have been on 3 cruises just this year. I have to write bad checks just to get gas for the children’s doctor appointments.
My daughter was just diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and I have to take her 3 hours away to the only pediatric specialist in the area. My left recently because of all the financial stress we were under and now he pays the vehicle payment and $200 a month in child support, but that is it. We have nothing, less than nothing, and it will not get any better if I can’t graduate because my field has no open positions to anyone that was mediocre in classes. I tried for disability, but even a disability lawyer told me that I have no hope of winning if I was not in a wheelchair. But, to be honest, I don’t want to be disabled, I WANT to work, it just really can’t be after about 7pm because after a long day the fatigue and cognitive issues take over and I’m completely drained. I think I can work a full 8 hours, but what if I can’t? Then what?
Please forgive me, but I have no sympathy for my son or his father because I guarantee he is not going without, but the rest of them are and it hurts my soul to see it. I am trying to give them that kind of life, but crap keeps knocking us back down, and the government has no sympathy for the working class. My son even told me that he is working for his dad’s friend and making $10 an hour, so my brat makes more money than me!! I could put my 16 year old to work, but I want him to take advantage of education unlike me, so that he will not have to live this way.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind paying it. I never have, I’d he asked for anything for my son, he always got it, but he ne’er asked for anything that wasn’t needed like basketball camp. We have eaten Lima beans and cornbread for three nights in a row because there is nothing else, or no money for anything else. While I see on his Facebook that they all go out to Applebee’s “at least once a week for family time”. I have no faith in a family court system that will take from the 3 children that live with me and give to the one living with his father. These kids see me struggling and say there is no hope for their future, and honestly I am inclined to agree at this point.
Its easy to form an opinion but at the end of the day it all comes back to communication between the 2 exes. You say your husband cannot be in the same room with the ex-wife yet they both moved on!! There is the problem, if they both put these kids first and settle the matter amicably for the benefit of the kids, you would have a better work out. But if he dished out jerk that’s what he will get back. However, if he treats the ex-wife with respect I know she will work around the numbers and cut him some slack. If he is feigning responsibility and turning the ex-wife to be the demon, she will return the favor the best way available to her. As for you new wifey, this could easily be you in her place where you fight for your kids rights to all they can get. So move forward with caution coz this kind of guy just might do the same to you. Be nice to the ex and she will compromise. Until you have kids, focus on your own home and work with what you have left. In the meantime caution your husband to be a man and sit down with the ex-wife to resolve these matters as a family. In fact courts appreciate when parents can work out these issues without the hand of the law. Its simple but idiots try to make it so hard
Theres a lot of crappy advice on here.
The truth of the matter is that your situation is unfair. When you pay child support it would be silly to think that all your money is going towards supporting the children. The contrasting differences between income and lifestyles is obvious and theres no real way to justify paying that much support. Kids don’t have to have every thing in the world anyways. You either accept it as the normality of life or you get a new lawyer and or fight it.
Both aren’t easy solutions, but they’re solutions.
Any advice for me?
I am paying 50% of my net income in support with 10% additional in arrears. Approx. 1700 a month! I have a good job, so does she. I cannot afford this amount and keep my life together. My rent, car ins and car payment are more than what I take home per month. I cannot afford these three bills, and that does not even include my internet service, cell phone, power, food, or gas.
I am a manager and I need internet and cell phone for work, not an option there. I also travel a great deal for work, cannot really downgrade my vehicle.
As well I have a new child that is 5 mos. old now that is not from the ex wife.
Exwife has changed the childcare to new places that are cheaper too.
I have an attorney still, but he never seems to get me any results. Issue is that I have already paid him thousands and don’t want to start with another attorney and pay again….
What should I do, what are my options?
If you and your husband decide to have a child you can have his child support order modified to allow you money to care for you own child. I have 3 children with my exhusband and 1 with my current husband and my portion of the income shares takes my youngest child into consideration..
I live in Texas and they are not suppose to take the new wife’s income into consideration. That’s her income not his.
I’m a custodial Mother and my ex is to pay 20% of his income towards child support. I have a friend that married a man who has 2 kids from a previous marriage and she feels like most new wives do.. she loves the kids but it upsets her that her new families finances aren’t what they could be because the ex is getting a portion of his income. My friend actually has his kids on her insurance because it’s cheaper for them that way. It’s definitely a tough spot to be in I’m sure.
My only advice would be to not get involved or married to a man with kids with someone else. It’s really the only way to make sure your income isn’t effected and you don’t have to worry about how you can’t afford to have your own children because your ex has to give part of his income to his ex. My friend is struggling with the same problem.. she wants kids but doesn’t see how she can afford it. She’s already working 2 jobs trying to make up for the loss of his income that goes to child support. I feel bad for her, but that’s just the way it goes when you get married to or in a relationship with a man who has kids with someone else. Not much you can do about it I’m afraid.
LIke Rachael said, if you do go ahead and have a child of your own with this man, yes you can get the child support reduced, but it won’t be that much. The ex will still get a good chunk of his income and if you’re lucky he’ll get to keep $75-150 of his money each month to raise your own child. So might not really be worth it as it will still be a struggle as the first mom to the mans children always gets the most child support. Even in the event y’all have a child and if things don’t work out, you’ll only get a fraction of the child support that Mom #1 gets for her children.
I’ve just recently gotten raped by the courts for CS, too. I will tell you this. I cannot afford to live. Period. The courts do not care. Period. Get a second job? Can’t. The ex can then take me to court and raise support. Can’t get a second job on the books. Period. Cost of living raise? Don’t want it bc the ex will take it. The system makes you want to be a deadbeat. The system makes it impossible to retain the same standard of living for the children from one house to the other. At my ex’s, they get everything. At mine, I can barely afford to feed them. My car is probably going to be repossesed. There will be no Xmas for my children. I make too much to qualify for any assistance. In short, I’m screwed. Best advice I can give. DO NOT GET MARRIED AND DO NOT HAVE KIDS. I love my kids, but life would be much easier without them. And, by the way, child support does not go to the kids in the majority of cases. It funds the social lives of the ex. Take off the rose colored glasses people…child support is alimony. My ex is remarried and living off his new wife. Her income is not considered. He has no expenses. The state doesn’t care. Period. The system is unjust as hell. I get why people run to other states and leave their kids behind to avoid paying. I get why people take under the table jobs and thus hide income. The state doesn’t care, the ex doesn’t care. Money is a motivator. Money is a controlling factor. Money makes you hate and resent and therefore makes it harder for the two of you to get along. And again,NO ONE CARES that you can’t afford it. I would run if I could…if I could leave my kids, I would. But I cannot bear to do that, so I will probably be homeless in a few weeks but at least HE WILL GET HIS DAMN MONEY. And the system is not gender-biased either, only income biased.
I would really like to meet a father that while married used 60% of his income on his child or children. Alimony is also absolutely ridiculous 80% of the time, I’d loooooove to see a wife set her husband up with a “certain type of lifestyle” and then have to keep him living it after divorce HA!
My husband has 3 kids with his ex wife, mind you we are military, up until recently we shared 50/50 custody with his ex, week on week off. He pays his ex $2150 a month with this arrangement. She has been unemployed for 3 years and recently she has moved to the east coast with her new husband. We still have to pay his ex $1200 a month, while his children are with us 100%. Tell me California isn’t jacked up. Where do they come up with these #’s? Who receives child support when they have no kids with them?.
I am a single mother who receivers child support, 1100, from a military dad, he has to pay 72% of my daughter’s expenses. He has an exwife and recently remarried, and is expecting a new baby in Feb, he took me to court to reduce his obligation, and the court reviewed my documents and his and ADDED an increase to his support, lol. He makes about 100k a yr, so it’s nothing to him but it does hellp me cope when I think of it, took me to court 3x and all three times they found in my favor, so careful what you might ask for. I am employed but don’t make as much as he does and when I file my taxes I do add the child support in there. So he gets some benefit and I claim my child but they dont’ tax him on the CS, they tax me which is fine with me, I don’t care really, the money goes to my daughter. I pay all the expenses for my child out of my own salary and have the CS going in to an investment account for which my daughter is the sole heir and the only one that can take money out, we can all put money into it, but only she can take money out and I also use a portion of it for her college fund, so if the ex-wife really is thinking about making life better for her children, she might want to do something like what I am doing for my child.
My child’s father used to hate me and complained that I was wasting the CS on myself and when I showed him what I was doing with CS he got mad and said it was for spending on my daughter and for her to enjoy but it’s also for me to take care of her, granted I dont need it so I use it sole for her benefit and our daughter will thank mom and dad for a free ride to college and financial freedom at 25, and my ex? he can blow kisses out the window for all I care and his wife, she can blow kisses out the window too, she blames me for all his financial issues, when it was the first wife who put him in financial hardship, took half of everything including, two houses, cars, vacation home, retirement pay, savings etc. I only get child support and its only a fraction, so you all new wives need to chill out. My husband doesnt care one iota as long as her daddy spends time with her, he doesnt care about the money.
Being a father of 2 kids, the xwife wanted to live with her parents forever and not move away, so I divorced her as that was no condition for kids to be living. Make a long story short, 60%+ of my paycheck is gone, anytime she thinks she needs money she cries to child support and they tack it onto me, deducting more from my paychecks without my knowledge.
I don’t even get to be responsible and make the payments myself, they just garnish what ever the hell they want out of my paycheck.
In the 2 years since that I divorced her, she has gotten a new car, new place to live, new top of the line cell phone, Put a pool in the backyard, purchased tablets for her parents, gets the bonus’s from taxes for the kids, but I can’t see the kids unless She approves it, and when she think’s It’s ok…. The only reason for our divorce was she was acting like a child, not wanting to leave the nest, now I’m stuck without my kids getting to see me, i’m lucky if i get to talk on the phone, any gift I get the kids, they never talk about it’s like they never got them, or they never get put together, always get put off, and I pay for all this… Only time I hear from her is OH this came up and I need MORE money but i’m not a gold digger.
The only way out it seems is 160mph into a brick wall.
I can’t afford anything, got a beater car, live with my parents, school loans I just can’t pay so they have garnished wages as well, because I have no money, but she makes twice what I do.
I can really see why people snap and do crazy shit.
I love my kids and want their life to be the best it can, but what about my life? What about her just pissing the kids money away?
Courts don’t care, they just up the % I have to pay anytime I try to re adjust, I got laid off for 3 months, and they wanted me to pull money from where the sun don’t shine to pay her or they threatened to sue me and put me in jail, ya that will get you the money you want, put me in jail.
I would love to see my child support payments accounted for by receipts, i’m sure she is buying everything HER heart desires, which is not a needed for the kids.
I still can’t wait for the day I get to sit down with my kids and let them read what their mother says and let them see what she did as to why their dad is not around.
I took her to court for child visitation rights, which now accounts for me to take a required drug test before I see my kids? wtf is this shit? Being dead would be so much peaceful.
Here’s one for you all…
My husband has a daughter and a son. Daughter is soon to be 16 and son is 20. 20 year old was 18 at time of divorce and wasn’t considered in CS. We pay 1200/month for daughter. I married him this past April and have a settlement from my ex in the bank. We recently purchased a home. I used part of my settlement as a downpayment, the rest is mortgaged.
Very little communication with his ex and both kids live with her and unfortunately very little communication with them as well.
Went to court last fall to clarify alot of the double talk in the decree. Some things were ironed out others not so much. Decided to revisit in 6 months. Within this time like I said we purchased a home together. It was either purchase one or rent one.. monthly payment is pretty much the same. I am currently seeking employment and hope to soon find something. We will be making our bills … but it will be tight until I find a job. We won’t be living lavishly that’s for sure. I have some of my settlement left over and will be purchasing a few pieces of furniture so we have something in the house we just bought. lol Neither of us has much of anything.
My concern is what his ex reaction will be in court this spring when she learns we purchased a home. As I said it was purchased using my settlement for downpayment etc. Not a cent of his income has been touched and won’t be touched except for mortgage payments and bills which we had anyhow, with rent/utilities.
Is there anything she can do or say about this? As I said I’m worried because she will think we are living luxuriously due to us BUYING a home when in reality it was a foreclosure and a steal basically and again we used my settlement from my divorce, when in reality we will be living paycheck to paycheck until I find a job.
Hi Everyone! I am too in a similar situation, partner has 3 kids from two moms and we have a daughter together, the financials stress caused us to separate because my daughter was not taken into account in his child support orders so he could not help me, we had to separate and put a child support order just so he would be able to help me support his daughter (his idea) we then got back together and are not suppose to, we would like to get married but can’t since the support he provides is vital. The irony here is that CS is suppose to be in the best interest of the children, it would be in the best interest of my daughter to live with both of her parents, but because she would not get accounted for if her parents are happily married her parents need to be separated so that daddy can help support her too, this I think is very unfair, why should a child in a family be treated differently, they too have the same needs as the other children. So we are simply not getting married, not “officially” living together, and I am planning on buying a house/condo since rent would be the same, he definitely can’t be on the loan either, if something happens to him (god forbid) I would not have to pay CS, but the mothers can come after his estate.
My story is just alittle different from all these. I am a single male raising someone else’s child. I was in a relationship (gay) and my partner past away. We took in his sister’s child when she was born. When he past away, I made the decission to raise her on my own. Things changed when I lost my job and had to resort to welfare. That’s when welfare decieded to go after the mother. Now things are bad between the mother and myself. She is very angry with me by taking money from her. I feel that if I am raising her child, which she never wanted, she should help pay for expenses. I am now employed, but I am not stopping any of the support!! She needs to take responsibility like everyone else that has children.
skyye35
I disagree you took on a child and all responsibilities just because governments make it possible for you to bleed money of someone else doesnt make it right .By your money for nothing attitude parents who adopt should be able to seek child support . And that also makes sperm donors liable .You want the child and somebody else to pay you for the privilege .
Wow that is a horrible situation! Your post was from 2011, so I hope it’s been resolved by now. You need to make a motion to modify child support. If it’s affecting your life and putting you in a crisis you can get the amount you pay per month lowered. I’m actually going through a situation like this right now. My baby daddy went to court without me knowing about it because the court didn’t have an updated address for me, so I never showed up and he suspended my visitation, received full custody, and sued me for child support. I haven’t gotten to see my daughter for about two years now, and the last time he got money out of my paycheck last year I lost my apartment, got put in debt, and lost my job, and my car was supposed to be paid off last year and March, but he kept getting my money I was going to make a car payment with. It’s been so hard to pick up on my feet because I can’t get any free legal help, and attorneys are so expensive, and I haven’t even been able to start building a savings. I just now started getting back on my feet because of my bf. I know how you feel and I just hope you’ve gotten out of that mess, but if you’re not then you need to file a motion to modify child support, and if you can’t afford an attorney yet you will need to find the paperwork to file yourself online or you can get the paperwork to file from the court clerk if you know exactly what it is. Please let me know your results!
can i take my wifes x husband to court for the right to claim her daughter as a dependant on my tax return? he pays 45 dollars a week child support and makes more money then me a year, and i spend alot more money on her throughout the year..
I was living a certain lifestyle prior to the recession. However, as for many people, the recession left me in a situation where that lifestyle had to be altered. I don’t see the U.S.Government designating anyone to allocate funds to me just because i was accustomed to a certain lifestyle prior to the fall. Why is it assumed that a parent who has been unemployed or a homemaker and “accustomed” to the luxury of being part of a team where the other half takes on the responsibility of being the primary breadwinner, is afforded the assumption that they should be allowed to maintain this lifestyle when a downturn of the relationship occurs? I am sorry, but as a single parent, I have to be the homemaker and the breadwinner. Both are hard work. I think there is strength in independence; the ability to adapt to ones’ situation and troubleshoot (ie get a job and support yourself rather than depending on taking a portion of your ex’s income) is an incredible lesson about personal responsibility, accountability and strength that one can teach ones’ children. The lack of personal accountability that is becoming more and more prevalent in the US astounds me and totally depresses me. Getting married and having children are huge decisions and there are never any guarantees about how it is going to play out. We should be prepared for the possibility that we might end up having to carry on the entire weight of the responsibility alone and realize that lifestyle changes will be part of that responsibility. I realize that people always take issues too far–to the extreme–people abuse the system at both ends. But good lord people! People having to move to a trailer park to make alimony/childcare payments while the other stays unemployed or minimally employed and receives monthly handouts? When did we stop being responsible for ourselves?
I realize this is an old blog, but I found it while searching for help with additional expenses besides child support. I have a great deal of experience in matters of child support and have been dealing with my husband’s ex and children for 7 years now. Child Support for him changes every few months, because his ex is never happy with the amount, and finds loopholes and ways to get more. Mistakes have been made and in total, my husband has paid $15,000 IN EXCESS in CS than he should have over the past 6 years. He can’t get that back, even though these were mistakes made by the court, fraudulent expenses submitted by the ex wife, etc. If you don’t “settle” or allow the Judge to rule, then you go to a mini trial, and that costs approx $20k. My husband’s ex has no attorney and is “pro se”, and my husband has had (6) attorneys over the years. None of them have made it past ONE motion due to his ex wife and all her craziness. She is a sociopath who only cares about money and hurting my husband. She continually abuses him financially, but has committed the worst offense – Parental Alienation. She has made both my husband and the children suffer deeply over the years. One child disowned him, and the other has been so severely brainwashed, that they are in weekly therapy together. My advice is this: don’t EVER rely on your attorney. They do not really do what is best for you and they care about other things like, how well they settle a motion, how they look in front of the judge, etc. My husband’s attorneys will make him pay an initial retainer of let’s say $2,000, which is a great hardship for us, but then once they get a taste of his ex wife and her antics, they double, sometimes triple the payment to $6,000. My advice to all of you is this: ALWAYS do your own research and never settle for somethign that doesn’t feel right – don’t trust your attorney to do the right thing. They have different motives for doing things and I have seen it all!! You are ALWAYS allowed to ask for proof of things, so make sure you ask for proof for expenses. We deal with an ex who submits fraudulent expenses and gets away with it. My husband once paid the kid’s medical insurance for months, only to find out, they didn’t have any and this $700 a month credit was going right into her pocket. Finally now after 7 years, child support has been adjusted to a somewhat “fair” amount, which is about 40% of my husband’s net pay. I did not think this was fair years ago, but he was up to nearly 55% of his pay going to the children at one point. The problem is, the ex isn’t happy with this, and she keeps finding reasons to get more and more money. She will “spend” just to screw my husband and has a real sickness. We realized that there was no way she could afford all these expenses either, and this is when we caught her committing fraud. She also has a second job with additional income, but has refused to disclose it, and no Judge has ever pressured her to do this! It is amazing what I see people get away with in court and the trick is what my husband ex’s does: she brings up SO many issues and problems that the Judge becomes confused and frustrated, and barely listens to the important details. In the end, all they care about is the kids, so fair or not, he rules in favor of those kids. There are many vindictive ex wives out there that do this very thing and get away with it. My husband’s ex hated me from day one, I don’t know why, I am actually older than she is! She made sure to tell the kids all sorts of lies about me so they hate me too. It is not fair for the fathers out there and how they get raked over the coals for money and when an ex holds back the children from him. My husband didn’t see his children for over a year because his ex claimed he was a drug addict and alcoholic, and the burden was on my husband to prove otherwise. His ex even manipulated their daughter’s therapist into believing this lie, and the Judge temporarily took away his priviledges to see his children until the therapist could “work” things through. Now my husband is working with a therapist who has totally made a 360 turnaround, but alittle too late. His daughter is already alienated and it has taken a year to get back on track – and they are still only at one visit a week. This is still not right, but he has to go slow because the therapist thinks this is best. The ex wife presents my husband with expenses that total just as much as child support each month, so he is actually paying double. In family law, there are no real rules and laws, and it is all up to the discretion of the Judge. I have seen the most bizarre things happen that are so UNFAIR. Each lawyer that my husband retained in the past 6 years, represented him ONCE in court and then either “quit” or told him they would have to charge double to continue to deal with his ex wife. THIS is what she wants! She writes and calls these attorneys incessently, sometimes 10 times per day. She is pro se, so they have to answer her just like they would an attorney, if she had one. She thinks she can get away with murder, and does! My husband just lost his latest attorney who went from charging him $2,000 for a motion, to $5,000 for the next motion. After child support, my husband makes $40,000 a year – not alot. He cannot afford an apartment, vehicle, any expense above and beyond food and commuting to his job. His ex makes the same salary as my husband, plus gets his $2,000 a month in CS, another $1,000 from social security (death benefit). She has a side business that no Judge has ever made her disclose, but my husband knows she makes between $5-$10k per month. She nickels and dimes him for $10 items, making him pay half, $5. She sends him an invoice every month, where she spends thousands on medical bills for a 13-year old and a 19-year old. These aren’t babies that need constant check ups. She spends excessively as a way to hurt my husband and vowed years ago that he would have “no life” if he left her. Those who haven’t seen it with their own eyes will say, why would she screw herself like that, but she DOES because she is a sociopath who would rather HURT my husband and be vindictive. The worst part of it all is that she is a pathological liar and thief, and she will lie about anything,under oath, and has NO fear. It is important to mention that she has been in jail for embezzlement and fired numerous times for stealing at various employers. Wehn we tell the Judge these things, he doesn’t care! She explains it as if it was a “bad” time in her life, and viola, no repercussions. If it was the other way around, and my husband was in jail and lying under oath, he would be in jail right now! She alienated the children and abuses him financially. NO lawyer has been able to get a Judge to see this or sort the lies from truth. She confuses the Judge and everyone in the courtroom to the point where the Judge just wants the case over, so knows nothing more than to do what is in the best interest of the children. She is the most manipulative person I have ever known. Does anyone know what expenses are considered “frivilous and unnecessary” for children? When I went through my own divorce, we went to economic mediation and were told that contact lenses, cable TV, cell phones, vacations, and even our pets were considered “unnecessary” expenses. The economic mediators told us if we couldn’t afford our divorced lifestyle, we needed to get rid of these items above. How do you tell your children “Dad and I are getting divorced” and then say, “and we cannot afford our dog and cat, so they have to go”. My husband voluntarily decided years ago to contribute an additional $25 per week for his children’s extra activities, just so the ex would leave him alone about money. She harrasses him DAILY, sometimes numerous times a day, via email, text, and phone demanding exhorbitant amounts of money. She does not include him in ANY decisions regarding the children, and she is allowed to spend whatever she pleases and then demand he pay half. The bottom line is: do your homework and don’t rely on anyone to do it for you. Research everything, ask tons of questions, and realize you are entitled to PROOF for expenses, and any information you want about your children. Don’t ever let an ex spouse hold back any information from you. Always demand to be involved in the decision process, where your opinion counts. Get an invoice, proof of her payment, insurance company EOBs for medical, and call directly and verify these expenses. I have seen everything from his ex “whiting out” an invoice to change dates/amounts, to providing false invoices that don’t exist that she typed up herself. Your lawyer and the Judge will NOT be fair and the only way you may get close to ‘fair’, is by protecting yourself. I came on here to look for a list of expenses that would be considered “unnecessary”, does anyone have access to something like this? Thanks and good luck to everyone here… some of you are rather harsh and judgemental and obviously have NO clue of the flaws in our justice system that cause severe unfairness to fathers. I sympathize with all father’s out there who voluntarily pay child support and support their children….the Michael Strahan divorce story is good – read it!
J.O. – I wanted to respond directly to your post, if you are still out there. I hope a year later you have remedied this situation somewhat. I do think you need a different lawyer who can present your financial case better. Don’t listen to these other judgemental writers because they have NO clue what it is like to work hard, and then give more than half to your children. I wouldn’t do that if I was married still! Children will bleed you from every dime if you allow them, especially children nowadays who feel so entitled. I make my children work for things and pay for their own things and refuse to spoil them. Your husband is also being abused financially, and this is not just about his children, this money is going to his ex wife so her and the children can live a luxurious lifestyle, while you two struggle to get by and have NO retirement. When two people decide to divorce, they know this comes with sacrifices for everyone! I had an economic mediator who told us to get rid of our pets because that was a non-emergency expense! They also said no cable TV, no cell phones, and no contact lenses… all considered luxuries. While we all want children to have what they need, there is a line, and these fathers should not be forced to have to give up half their salaries so their children can live better than they do and the father barely makes it. It makes you want to go out on disability or unemployment… whats the point of working hard if it is all taken away from you? I am divorced too, but my ex and I are reasonable about spending and we do not overindulge or punish each other like this. Suze Ormond always gives good advice and that is, when the airplane is going down and the masks drop, who do you put the mask on first, you or your child? Yourself. You have to save yourself before you can save your child… financially. You don’t give up retirement while your kids are living lavishly. The kids can pick ONE activity a season, which is reasonable. Remember, by law, child support INCLUDES all these activities, so your husband needs to look into this. Also, you may want to do what we did and that is to put a “cap” on extra expenses. My husband was being dragged into court every 3 months by his ex to pay “extra expenses”. This was thousands and thousands of dollars each time, and usually she would “out talk” him and she would win. This was before he got a lawyer. The court mediator came up with a dollar amount that my husband pays each week for all extra curricular activities. This amount is $25 per week in addition to child support. This worked for awhile, but now his ex is abusing him by submitting “medical” and “college” expenses, which are not included in child support. For instance, she allowed the son to take SIX (6) SAT tests in 9 months – ridiculous and excessive. She allowed the daughter to get new eyeglasses even though she had new glasses from last year – all because the daughter wouldn’t wear the old ones because they were babyish. I wanted my husband to fight this expense, but when it turned out to only be $60, we decided it wasn’t worth it. So while the weekly activity fee worked well for awhile, it isn’t remedying the problem we have now, which is that his ex emails us daily about this expense and that expense. This might work for you, if your husband’s ex is more reasonable. Also, make sure your husband puts in his agreement that he wants all proof for these expenses, prior to paying them. For instance, the mother should send a monthly envelope with invoices, showing her proof of payment, and any related information such as an EOB for medical expenses, etc. You then should have 15 days or so to verify the expenses are legitimate, and pay your half. If you make it a little harder for the mother, it may even lessen the expenses. It doesn’t work with my husband’s ex witch, but it does work with reasonable people. I hope things are better for you now.
@EXPERIENCED IN CHILD SUPPORT. You gave some very good advise. But I just thought that I would mention that extra activities are not always included in the amount that states determine for child support. For example, in Louisiana there is a chart. It lists how much it cost to raise a child. X amount for one child, X amount for 2 and so on. That base amount includes, food, housing, clothes etc. Then on top of that each family is required to submit a list of additional expenses, such as private school, daycare, dance, piano, sports, tutoring or whatever else the child is involved in. The judge then adds that total to the total amount it costs to raise the child (he can disallow items if he feels they are excessive). The total is then divided based on how much each parent makes. The total amount each parent makes is added together and then divided. If the custodial parents makes 60% of the total income and the NCP makes 40%, then the NCP has to pay 40% of the total amount it costs to raise the child to the custodial parent as child support.
My only point is that states can vary wildly in the the way the determine child support, what is allowed as an additional expense and what is not. A friend of mine lives in another state than me and her experience is completely different. The judge said that extras were not allowed, that she had to pay for everything out of her base child support amount. To the original question asker: if I were you I would get a lawyer to help you navigate the system. Best of luck.
I have a question I have three kids with this man he have not paid child support n 7 years the last was 2006 $58.00 this year he filed tax child support took $2778.00 all of it they told me he owe the state n they have to get there’s first. I have not got no cash from OWF n the last 6 years n 2005 I got $1400.00 off his tax so how the hell he owe this much now I was reading online that if u have more then one case they split the money between the two n my case I have two with the same father, one case he don’t owe the state and one he do so they put all the money on that one and took it all. I ask Chris support how is this helping the kids I’m a great mom and I work hard to take care of them by myself n he dose nothin and child support dose nothin but take from the child how is that helping when they take it all
My husband conceived a child during an affair. I didn’t find out about the child and neither did he until 8 years later. When she notified him that it was his child and she wanted child support. He came clean to me once it was determined the child was his. He’s now paying child support to this single woman who has 2 more children by 2 different men.
I didn’t divorce him because we have 3 children and I know it would devastate them (the only reason we’re together). It’s been 3 years since I’ve found out, and now she is requesting more money, receiving $650 a month now. We are trying to make ends meet, and my children are going without.
What can I do? I know he was wrong, and feel it isn’t fair that an adulteress can be rewarded money and more money when she had a child with another woman’s husband.
I feel better now that I know I am not the only one who is dealing with a husband’s child support payments. My husband has 2 children with his first wife. We have spent THOUSANDS of dollars in lawyer fees over the past 13 years, and still owe him a couple of hundred yet. My husband pays about $1000 a month in CS along with medical, dental and vision. And yes, the court wanted my income as well to take in consideration when it came to paying child support. I don’t mind that he pays the child support. What I’m having a problem with is that we have 2 children of our own. My husband went through cancer treatments and a job loss. No matter what, domestics wanted that child support. She would receive her complete payment, leaving only $20 in his check for all of us to live on. Most recently, the court took OUR savings account to pay for his arrears. There was no warning and no reason for this action. We received no notice that he was even in arrears. Nothing like waking up to find your savings account GONE! I’m devastated and angry over this because the courts are taking money from my children for his 2 other kids. The money they took was money that I saved from my paycheck for our property taxes. His ex is remarried so she has her husband’s income, her income, half of my husband’s income, and her daughter’s income. I have half of my husband’s income and my income (which is not much). I watched my dad go through this when he left my abusive mother. He struggled to survive until my baby brother turned 18. Now I’m having to do the same thing. My children shouldn’t be punished so that their sisters can live comfortably.
This is exactly why I date from other countries that don’t have child support, child support is nothing but legalized fraud.
i think the point being missed here is yes, he has a financial obligation to his first family. but when he re-married, he ADDED to his obligations to his NEW family and they do not deserve any less than the first. when HIS baggage of child support is increased, he does what he has to do to take care of his new family, working 2 or 3 jobs if he needs to.
You missed the point the problem wasn’t supporting his children or paying cs but about the extras he is forced to pay. Just because his ex and her new husband can afford to pay for the best extracurricular doesn’t mean he can. Most people look at the best that they can find for what they can afford.
I have to agree with d. It is legalized fraud. It is a very unfair, outdated system that displays blatant bias. Unfortunately, I do not think there is a way to change it. Fathers are an unspoken for minority within the child support system.Yes, fathers have an obligation to support their children. Not even going to argue that point. But they should not be treated like criminals when they do support them. For those that pay child support, it is like being on probation. Every time a father goes to domestic relations for any reason, he is treated like a criminal regardless of the situation. I have experienced this time and time again. As for the nay sayers, I guarrantee that you have never walked in the shoes of the father or have been on the receiving end of Domestic relations. Someday I hope that your life, or the life of a loved one, is affected by our family court system that way you can experience the pain involved with it. Then you may not be as quick to pass judgement on the fathers that are caught in the tangle of the court systems. It is a true american tradgedy.
My husband has 2 kids from a previous marriage. His ex-wife came from a lot of money, received a huge trust fund and a huge inheritance. She owns two homes (worth about 600K) and has hundreds of thousands of dollars in the bank. She has spent about $200K on very expensive private schools for the kids, who are now in 11th and 12th grades. The kids have never gone without–iPhones, Mac laptops, Kindles, iPods, trips to France, etc. She and my husband make about the same income– $55K/year–so clearly she and the kids are not living within the means of her income and child support. Until now, my husband’s child support was based on the amount from during their divorce 12 years ago–which was about $600/month. She has now taken him back to court to get the maximum amount of child support, plus pay for college!! My husband has no savings, no assets, no retirement from paying child support and trying to have a small semblance of a life. I have worked my way through 3 degrees and I have a good job and income to reflect that. I have a child from a previous marriage as well. When we married 3 years ago, I bought a house big enough for all of our children to come and visit and he pays me “rent”. I pay for everything in our household–he can only afford to pay about 15% of our bills. Now that I am in the picture, she is deposing me and all of my financials so that she can prove we have “means” to pay for college. So essentially, he will be court-ordered to pay for college that he cannot afford (on top of child support) based on my income and assets. As I have a child (and I don’t receive child support becuase i never wanted it) I feel that this is hurting me and my child unfairly to favor his children who have literally never suffered for anything in their lives. The fact that she has almost $1M in assets and he has none doesn’t seem to matter to family court. Contrary to some opinions, no, I didn’t sign up for this when I married. I don’t care if he has to pay child support at the maximum level for our state. That’s fine with me. What I’m bitter and resentful about is that I’m expected to provide “means” for college for HIS KIDS while my own goes without. Sorry but family court is a joke.
Why did he not go back and try to lower his support? Was the trust fund not brought up at his orginal hearing? If so then he had a sucky lawyer. It is woman like her that give mothers who go without for their children while their husbands new wives hide all their money!! WHy not try something scummy like Christine on here suggests. Be a total sleaze like her, obviously your husband is not like hers, he puts himself first and of course Christine!! Anyhow, you do not say whether you get child support? If you don’t you should be getting it. Your husband needs a good lawyer, I do not think your income can reflect her support. I am fairly certain it might help a bit, (meaning he has you to pay for much of the bills, but unless you are extremely wealthy, it will not help his ex to go after your money) but overall, your money can not be expected to pay for his kids education. College should have been brought up in his original agreement and if it wasn’t then once again he had a sucky lawyer. If it was brought up, his ex will have to prove what has changed in your husband’s life that would allow for him to pay for that. Marrying you is not change enough (I am fairly certain of that). So she should no have a chance, your ex should prove how she travels and spends money and that he should only be responsible for his fair share. Sorry you have to go through that, this lady sounds horrible, but sadly I do not think she is the norm. I am certain she isnt. Good luck.
I wish there was a better way to give fathers a voice in the child support system or to even change support decrees. It is hurting more than it is helping.
Me and my ex are still in a battle with child support. We went to court and I had to show bank statements for the last year and taxes from the year prior and pay stubs. I have my son 80% over night stays and he has him 20%. He had his own business and on his financial affidavit he put on there that he makes $300 less than I do and I only make $10 dollars an hour. He says he has all this money and he had two truck, two cars , two trailers and a boat but he can never pay his child support on time. I finally went to an attorney to get him to be able to show proof of his income because im trying to go for an increase in child support to make it half of the cost that will take care of out son so he never had to show anything he just put a number on paper that was less than my income. How am I able to prove what his income is. My attorney said that I would have to go to a accountant in family law but it will cost me 5,000 and I can’t afford that. Is there any other way? I know his income annually is about 75,000 at least!
So since the reader posted and said that her income is not considered in her husbands Child support order, there is really only one explanation, because 60% is far above what the percentages are for two kids in any U.S. state. In my opinion the husband owes his ex arears, meaning that he was supposed to pay a certain amount of support for a number of months/years but failed to do so or failed to do so through the department of revenue. I am curious to know if the reader attended all of the court dates with her husband. Most states do not take into account a spouses income and only use half the value of jointly owned property as assets. I really just dont believe there is a judge out there that would order child support in the amount of 60% of his income. I believe his paychecks are being garnished for payment of arears. the only other way this would be happening is if the order is being written by criminal court (modifications to a restraining order or something) which is probably not the case since they have visitation and also because any lawyer would tell you to go straight to family/probate court and it would be significantly less.
I agree. There is more to this than meets the eye. This woman like MANY of the women on here need to stop feeling sorry for themselves. There are children involved, they are adults, they knew this going in. I have no sympathy for anyone on here, Christine is an embarrassment and a disgrace to all fathers and their new wives. No wonder step mothers get the rep of being step monsters, that greedy witch totally fits that bill!!
We live in an age when fathers are punished by the legal system.
Like things that are fashionable to decry at the present time, such as abuse against women or the environment, this punishment will be seen, with hindsight, as grossly unfair by future generations……..
but that does not help all the dads at the moment. They are just all out of luck.
I was married for 14 years. I gave my heart and soul to my family. I worked equally with my spouse to provide my family with a beautiful home. I stayed home while our children were young and worked sometimes 2 job to support my spouse and his dreams while he went back to school to earn his masters degree. The deal was, I was going to get my degree once he got settled into his new career. He got in trouble with the law, i put off school to financially carry us through and I worked to pay off the fees for the lawyer to bail him out of trouble and ultimately exponge his record. I got sick and had to stop working for about a year. During that time his career took off due to his education status.He left me and my 2 children with literally the few dollars I had in my pocket. Now I struggle at a minimum wage job to make ends meet. He pays 60% of extra curricular activities and medical after a yearly copay and after school care. What he pays covers for our rent, utilities, the used car and insurance I use to drive them to school and activities and groceries. That’s what he’s would have to pay for if we were still married anyway! He no longer pays for school clothes, play clothes, school supplies, shoes, holidays and a million other things kids need on a daily basis. I don’t know ANY Single mom in my situation thaotsvliving the high life like you all assume your exes wife does. Its a daily struggle where often cable gets turned off so supplies for a science project can be purchased. I’ve asked him for help in really lean times for milk or christmas gifts from santa and he says too bad, i met my obligations.and then takes his new flavor of the week to italy or vegas or disney ( not the kids, just the girlfriend) that may be all good and fine for you now but Consider if you trulay WANT to have more children in this persons life- he could just as easily treat you and your kids like this one day!
I just read these post and 65% sounds about right since I, too, was paying about that for two kids as well. I make about as much as your husband and yes I was taking home about 1100 a month after everything. I was living like I was getting paid a little less than minimum wage. Bunch of BS but here is how the judge explained the calculation to me. Since I am a single male who is responsible and has a steady full time job and doesn’t have any other financial burdens like school or other kids, I was immediatly set at around 50 percent since i had only every other weekend and one evening during the week for visitation. Granted that each state is different but here in California they base the percentage of visitation on over nights. So really in the courts eyes I was only having 4 over nights per month. So I was ok with the 50 percent since I was living on that before I got my current job and did ok. And by ok I mean living in the ghetto in a small 1 bedroom apartment and driving a 10 year old car with a billion miles on it. But oh well. Then the judge asked for extra expenses that my ex was paying like child care, sports, medical bills, etc. Well here in cali you can expect to pay around 1000 bucks a month for child care in an OK place for two kids so I was set to pay half. Right there it exceeded my two thirds law on the max they can take. Well he didn’t care about that law because up until recently I had around 27 thousand dollars in back support. Well I had to go to court (both criminal and civil/family) to break down all the charges because DCS had a warrant issued for me eventhough I had been giving 2/3 of my check but yet they wanted more. Well after that was cleared up and DCS was never held responsible for “small mistake” I was finally set for max 2/3. Now we realize that our children’s well being is worth more than fighting over money so we came to an agreement where if she reports (with receipts) on actual cost of my boys like daycare, food, sports then I have to pay half and then she has to give me visitation. Kind of like renting my children but hey it works and we don’t fight anymore and cost are way lowere. So I suggest try to get along with the ex and work together and get the government’s fat head out of your children’s life. Take co-parenting classes as much as possible and offer to pay half when you request it from the judge. The judge will be like “what the hell” when your husband goes in there and is like “we need to work on our co-parent relationship so we can no longer rely on the courts and ultimatly the tax payers pockets and I would like to request as many co-parenting class as you can order and I am willing to pay half if she is ok with this”. The judge will then look to her and be thinking “your kids dad wants to work with you to better the relationship with the kids and you so you better say yes”. I will say that the co-parenting I went through made us work together and I started seeing how we were bickering and we started working togther.
i have been paying for child support, I bring home 2000.00 by weekly, I paid uncle sam 546.00 biweekly, and then I get 775.00 net after child support by weekly, how can I survive with 1550.00 a month leaving in new York, my rent alone is 1100.00 a month. she does not paid rent because she is married with a superintendent of the building, don’t paid for cable or phone , they even don’t paid the garage, she is always traveling, while I cant even afford a vacation, to just stay home, I don’t have a problem supporting mu kids, they are my responsibility, we have three kids, she does not allowed me to claim not even one child on my taxes. I think they need to change the rules of child support, one year she claims them and the other year I claim them but its not like that, I know what the reader that posted this question is going through,
I can’t believe the pathetic comments on here. Don’t marry men who have kids. Plain and simple. If you do, be prepared for all the trouble that comes along with it. Complaining and blaming the ex does not help at all. As a matter of fact, stop focusing on the ex. She has nothing to do with you. And stop using “we”! The child support obligation is solely your husband’s issue. You did not help make his children.
jeez.
Conversely one could reply: Men with kids should stay with the biological moms of their children forever and not get into another relationship.
Most people here are struggling to get by and usually realize the huge mistake of marrying a man with children from a previous relationship only after the financial stress brings them to breaking point. You really can’t blame them, since Disney and “Dad” both promised everything would be okay.
My boyfriend’s baby-mama recently informed him that he would have to pay several thousand for his son’s braces. This decision was taken unilaterally by baby-mama and told boyfriend on the day the child received his braces. So much for prior warning. As a result, my boyfriend can choose to pay for rent or for food but not both. I have gone over his finances thoroughly and I do not really understand how anyone in his position can make ends meet without having a rich wife/mother/father/girlfriend. Meanwhile his married ex is able to go on vacation, have two more children and support a menagerie of animals both in the house and housed in rented facilities. I am not sure how she does this since her husband is not working and her job is not that great. The funny thing is she seems to be a nice person, so I can not even call her nasty names or anything. Ha ha, I actually like her. :) I just hate the situation.
I am not married and I have to admit I am put in the very real and uncomfortable situation of choosing between the man I love and my hopes and dreams which I have striven to achieve alone with much work and study but would forfeit if I married him. This really sucks but it is reality and I am a practical person.
Anyone who say that children are only there for a little while are living in denial. Children are a financial obligation well into their adulthood and any woman waiting until the kids are out of college or until they turn 18 is setting herself up for an unpleasant surprise. If the child is his first priority now and you are second and left to foot the bill you should expect this to be true for your whole relationship until you die nothing will change this. The ex will always be the mother of the first and most important people in his life and you can look forward to you and your family always coming second after his first family.
Look people bottom line the child support system is a job maker and a cash cow for states. I’m on child support and I pay $557 a month for one child. My problem with the system is why does it take more to or less to raise my child than the next 9 year old. Why do they combine my income with the mother even though we were never married, and figure out a number for me to pay? Why do they intentionally put you in arrears when garnishing your check and not tell you that your support is due on the first of every month? The messed up thing is that if you pay out of pocket on the first they will still garnish your check anyways. Louisiana Child supports system is designed to put a father in arrears for the first 9 months of the year but they messed up big time. Any one of you fathers that are in arrears may have noticed that they report you to the credit bureau if you are behind on your child support. I have filed a lawsuit against the state of Louisiana under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for reporting me to the credit bureau for arrears but the only reason I have them is because their system is designed to put you there! The good thing is I have a strong case under the Act and I should be receiving a nice hefty sum back……..I SUGGEST SOME OF YOU LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER INTO YOUR SITUATION. Learn to dance in the rain!
M.L.
Man o man! I feel your pain! Supporting another person sitting on there butt and collecting child support while you help your husband live because he can’t make it paying her…story of my life! I married him better or for worse and I will help him any way I can but when I know she is not giving the same amount to the kids and that she feels like we should support her too that is what gets me! No one understands unless your the stepmom taking care of kids 50% of the time, loving them like your own, barely making ends meet basically because you succeeded in your life and had enough pride not to think people owe me instead of working! I am also like you 27, wanting a child of my own, wanting to get off night shift but unable to do so because I have to pay the bills my husband can’t help with and he could get another job but heaven forbid they will just take more money. Maybe in 7 years they will live with us but I guarantee she won’t pay us a damn dime!!! This is the world we live in. The good fathers try to move on and do their best and most exs take all they can while they try! I have faith that God will reward me one day and I know he will for you too!!!
Sadly not actually having children, you have no clue what it entails to raise them. You say you have them 50% of the time, well then if that were actually the case, then you are not giving her a ton!! She has as much money to raise them as your husband. Actually less, because he has yours as well. If you had any clue about all the little things she probably pays for, that you don’t, then maybe you wouldn’t bitch like you do. You knew this going in, but apparently you must have figured you would have some control over the situation, well guess what, they were there first. THEY should be his number one concern, not YOU or his ex wife. Stop complaining, if you don’t want to pay support, try to get custody now. But something tells me you do not want them, you like your free time. Well that is good, but you have to pay for it. Sorry it is just a fact, one you knew all about when you signed up!!
My husband had to pay $1,400 in child support each month to his ex wife. It was crippling us. I set up an LLC, and I earn all of my income through it. I work as a marketing associate and earn $61,000 a year. I take a salary of $21,000 a year—which drastically lowers the amount that is counted against us. The “business” pays our mortgage and expenses, and we live on a mere $21,000 plus his part time income. Since the court can’t order him to pay an amount that would put us below the poverty level, his child support amount was lowered to $50 a month. Yes, this is entirely legal. Ask your lawyer and accountant about this. There are ways to get out from under the debt…
hello i am faceing this with my husband we been together for 16 yrs and we have 2 kids together and until aug 2013 he was paying $314.00 now the court lowerd it to $225.00 but they never of our 2 kids but they started takeing out july2012 with no dna just a default and to add insult to injury she have 4 other children and getting no childsupport for them but she filed in 2009 and after the cut her off welfare then in july they started the garnishment he made $34454.00 that year i dont know what to do
That is outstanding, Christine – and that kind of thinking and information is very valuable, not just to protect against the threat of child support payments.
I think the best thing you can do is have your husband talk to his ex wife.
My situation is a little different. My exhusband and I do shared parenting. My exhusband does make more money than I do but he also has higher bills. He kept the house we lived in and that came with a high mortgage payment. Since I felt like my kids were being ripped into an unknown territory when we divorced I wanted my kids to have the comfort of the house that they had been raised in. I felt like it was the right thing to do.
I want the best thing for my kids. Had I requested child support from the ex I knew he wouldn’t have been able to swing the bills on his own, so I didn’t. I think talking to the exwife like an adult and explaining the situation is the best thing to do.
Sadly, HE should have given YOU the house and paid the mortgage, so the kids could live there all the time. (assuming you kept custody?) It is hard to tell from your post if you have custody or if your ex has custody, if your ex has custody, then you are really in no position to be posting advice like that because of course you would not take child support. If you have custody and did not take child support, then you are a fool. Your husband could see the house because if your kids are not living with him most of the time, you uprooted them anyhow. Your ex chooses the lifestyle he has. If you have a great job and do not need his support, then you really are in no position to be commenting on child support anyhow, you do not know that his ex wife does not need the money? She has the children 95% of the time, there are MANY costs that go along with that.
To crankymommy
I bet your one of those people that would suggest that someone still pay child support for children that are not his..
I.E Paternity Fraud
And not to be harsh completely!
I am glad to hear you are content with your life.
I’m one of the mothers receiving child support. We do things outside of court and he pays me a little over half of what The court would determine. I did work up until recently when I moved in with my boyfriend and therefore have less bills. I have paid all dental bills myself as well. However to be honest I don’t want to go to court but feel it is necessary because he won’t agree on sharing claiming the kids every other year on tax returns which seems fair especially since my state would determine I get to 100%. He doesn’t pay dental but never brushes their teeth so dental bills are high and says the dentist I chose is too privy but he is good I drive an hour to take them And the kids love him. It is true he is pricy but these aren’t toys and crap these are their teeth and their comfort. He recently got married to a woman that was formerly on welfare with two financially uncared for children. They married after two months and he is now having another baby. There is possible child abuse going on at the wife’s families house and he won’t keep them away from there. I would have been fine not going to court but it is more than necessary and when I get twice as much I’m child support because I had to take him I’m not going to reject it. I’m also planning not to work for two years because I’m in school full time as an honors student and in an active volunteer group. Between classes I volunteer at my sons school because he has problems. I will get the angry card all the way around but why should I feel bad. The kids are with me most the time and they should be because they are safe and cared for properly with me. I wish I had finished school before I had kids but I didn’t and my kids shouldn’t pay for that. There are a lot of single parents in the same situation so I don’t think it should be so harshly spoken about. It’s not as easy in either spot and should be dealt with civilly truly based on need but sometimes it has to go to court which is very sad.
@kack
Baloney on the “You knew what you were getting into” and the “She has as much money to raise them as your husband. Actually less, because he has yours as well.”
Did you not read the part about the BM’s new husband earning 3X what biodad earns?
1. I was a true single parent in the eighties with ZERO CS and worked 2-3 jobs to support my children WITHOUT alienating (aka trash talking dad) the children.
2. I did not know that this biodad I am currently with would believe ex-wifey about “owing her his ENTIRE income till eternity” something I put my foot down about six months into the deal
3. In my case, biodad earns 32K a year gross in NYS, yet pays $1K a month non arrears taken out of net income, yet still owes taxes at the end of the day. He is scared crapless about going back to get a downward mod as a significant part of the CS is for childcare expenses which the BM has not used in over five years. She is greedy and will find SOME way to increase it.
4. If it weren’t for my income, biodad would be living in a cardboard box, never mind a trailer. He has ten years down and ten more to go at least (21 not 18 here in good ol’ golden uterus centric NYS)
5. The BM earns 10K+ more than biodad and her new hub earns almost six figures. The children lack for nothing materially; they have iphones, ipads. take many vacays to Florida and the like. Yet all three are failing academically as the BM (who is a CPS worker with Cadillac health benefits and retirement) doesn’t act as a parent but instead BFFs her kids and doesn’t make they do homework, classwork or even attend school, yet insists they participate in all the extra curriculars despite what the school says. All the children are hopped up on ADHD meds and anti depressants in lieu of discipline and social mores.
The laws stink. Custody should be 50/50 with no CS changing hands other than in the case of Parental Alienation. Whichever parent commits Parental Alienation should IMMEDIATELY and PERMANENTLY lose custody and be ordered to pay CS. The modern day stay-in-bed Facebook Mom should be outlawed. And CS should go to 18 not 21+ like it is in many states. Half of college attendees should be replaced with trade school. Not every child is college material although community colleges LOVE the “C.O.D.” (child of divorce) for whom no bar of expectations was ever held due to sheer pity and “everyone gets a trophy.” Seems today’s “institutions of higher learning” are enamoured of the endless payments for remedial grade and high school non-accredited classes from the “cash cow” biodad.
Very well said, these current laws are unreal and the amount of money some of use are forced to pay is a stick up plain and simple. I feel better if they would come to my home with a pistol and just rob me, at least I’d have a better understanding as to what’s really going on.
I don’t know about your state, but mine allows a non-custodial parent to petition the court to require an accounting to make sure that the money is actually spent on the children.
I’ve also been trying to get my ex-wife to use a shared checking account like this one (http://www.mediate.com/articles/if_they_can_do_parenting_plans.cfm) so that I can make sure that what is labeled as child support is actually spent on the children.
Other questions – is it worth considering moving to where the ex-wife lives so that the parents could share custody, with no exchange of money between the parents, and is the ex-wife willing to allow your husband to claim the kids for taxes because of the percentage of his net income that he pays in ‘child support’?
Alain how do you do that? my husbands ex wife wants money through western union she doesn’t want us to send checks but we want to make sure what we send goes for the kids not on her. What does this account entail i’m curious. It would be nice to know that we aren’t getting screwed over by her.
We are in that situations, she lives in the states though. We pay what we can afford, if we paid everything she wanted us too we’d have nothing. We have a son whos 7 months old together but he doesnt take alot of money. She wants Air jordans for her son, new iphone5’s for the kids and were like we dont even have iphone5s why would we get it for the kids? then she will say well because he is in canada and we are in the states he should have to buy them more gifts???> He says if he wouldn’t buy it for him if he were there why would he buy these for them when he’s here in Canada. Kids for 2 do not cost as much as your husband is paying. The thing is that it isn’t about the kids its about her greed she’s going by what they want not what they need. Make an agreement what you can afford and she can take any lessons music, ballet whatever out of that amount. He has to support the kids not go hungry doing it
each situation regarding child support differs. In my situation, I am the custodial parent and mother who has financially supported and raised my 2 children on my own. My son is 21 and my daughter is 19. Throughout the entire time that i raised them, I have been unsuccessful in having their dad help financially, and be involved with them period. I was surprised when my children’s father even showed up in court. I was relieved when a court order was issued for the non custodial parent to pay child support for the 19 year old until she turns 21. He didn’t voluntarily support them on his own. He has not been in their lives since my 21 year old was 9 years old. before that the non custodial father didn’t help out financially.
The non custodial parent has missed all of the important moments that occurred in his children’s lives as well as the times my son needed his dad. I have wore the mom and dad hat all along. The non custodial parent who is not active financially and physically in the child’s life has no reason to complain about paying child support. Better, a court shouldn’t have to force a person to pay support. The way I see it. After all the years i have been paying the absent parents’ share, i wouldn’t allow him to dictate what to spend the money on. especially since i have been sacrificing, while paying the non custodial parents, share the entire time. It’s ludicrous to pick and choose what the money is spent on. The custodial parent did not make the kid on her own. The only thing i would recommend however, to the spouse, married to the non custodial parent, who is paying for child support is; deal with accounts separately as opposed to jointly, and don’t add the child support as part of the budget you pay out of your pocket. I would arrange everything separately before marriage knowing that their is a child support issue. This way, you don’t “make a bed that you haven’t slept in”. I have nothing but respect for parents who are there for there children.
That is a rarity ESPECIALLY in BM-centric New York State. I too was a single mom in the eighties and held down two to three jobs supporting my children since I received no child support.
Somehow I still managed not to alienate the children from my ex-husband. Oh and my now adult children are productive members of society. More than I can say for the budding felons that the BM in my case is “raising.”
My husband I’m living with now