How Are Child Support Amounts Set by Legislatures

[machineguns]

My question involves child support in the State of: Everyone of them

How was it determined that 17% was an adequate amount of child support when everyone's income differs. Milk costs the same, rent does not.....there are so many variables that sway one way or another. Why isn't a real accounting used real time and cost analysis.

What is the point of 17% then adding on so many different things, why not just do as I say and to a real time bookkeeping that documentation be necessary for? Seems like its a stab in the dark at the expense of many and not some that should be held more accountable CP and NCP alike. Seems like I am witnessing a high degree of financial accountability for NCP's with little or none for the CP. Why is that?

[cyjeff]

Dunno... cause you aren't paying attention?

Every single state takes both parent's income into account in terms of child support. If you wish to pay more than the court ordered amount, feel free to do so.

[aardvarc]

Then there's the politically incorrect, yet accurate answer:

Why isn't a real accounting used real time and cost analysis

Anyone who has ever had to call or do business with a child support office knows first hand that there are a handfull of people, trying to deal with many thousands of cases. And that's with the system as it stands NOW. Why? Because tax payers tend to have chips on their shoulders and don't want to pay for the salaries of the hundreds if not thousands of state employees that it would take to do that work (all of whom would likely need to have accounting degrees, thanks to the word "analysis" in the job description). Tax payers without children, and those with children who manage to raise their kids without court interventions tend to be pretty vocal that they don't want their tax dollars spent to champion the cause of those who were "less successful" at the same endeavor. Thus, legislatures work out formulas to negate the need (which can't be met) and the expense (which won't be approved). The only REAL way to have "fairness" is for couples to be united in their raising of their children, such that accounting and finances are worked out within the family, rather than the courts. Once a couple fails to do so and turns the issue over to a bureaucracy.......

[machineguns]

I don't pay attention?

there is no need to talk out of your ass to me sir, I asked a question.

If you don't like my questions don't answer them with your smart ass commentary.

I more than comprehend the way child support is calculated. My question where did they derive the number 17 from. The number from which they calculate the NCP's child support from, not the shared responsibility part of the percentage or pro rate combined income part.

Now does anyone want to answer without the critique?

[Dogmatique]

I don't pay attention?

there is no need to talk out of your ass to me sir, I asked a question.

If you don't like my questions don't answer them with your smart ass commentary.

I more than comprehend the way child support is calculated. My question where did they derive the number 17 from. The number from which they calculate the NCP's child support from, not the shared responsibility part of the percentage or pro rate combined income part.

Now does anyone want to answer without the critique?

Ask the legislators in each State.

Honestly - do you expect the volunteers here to do that for you?

Dunno... cause you aren't paying attention?

Every single state takes both parent's income into account in terms of child support. If you wish to pay more than the court ordered amount, feel free to do so.

The "straight percentage" States don't care about the CP's income. Jes' sayin'.

[Lawrence084]

I don't know the answer, but I have researched similar type questions. The answers tend to be based on studies, from ogranizations that deal with household income and parenting. 17% (if it is that) is not a number pulled out of a hat. It based on years of studies from varies organizations that take the numbers and come up with a percentage and all the other factors that determine the amount the NCP Pays.

If you really want the answer, go to a library with state and/or local information and research it. You will end up looking through a very thick book on census information.