Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    1

    Default Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    My question involves child support in the State of: Florida

    When I got divorced in May 2008 I was unemployed and we had one child, 3 years old at the time. I was ordered to pay either $298 or $398, I can't remember exactly, but it was based on minimum wage. I got a job a couple months later, and while I wasn't ordered to pay anything more went ahead and decided to send my ex-wife $600/month, I felt bad basically, blaming myself for the break-up etc...

    Here we are two years later and I have gotten a couple raises at work and am now giving her $800/month. I always figured I was paying her the right amount since $298/month seemed like such a low figure and it was based on minimum wage. Lo and behold a friend of mine who works in HR tells me that I should be paying probably around $400/month. She has to garnish some of the employee's wages for child support and this is about the amount she garnishes for people with one child.

    I know the amount varies based on my ex-wife's and my wages, and from what I've looked at on a worksheet from the state of Florida, based on both of our individual incomes being close to $2400/month net, I would be looking at between $400 to $500/month.

    On top of sending my ex-wife $800/month, I've also volunteered to pay $120 month for swimming lessons.

    I feel like I'm being a total sucker at this point. My question is, what exactly should I be paying her per month, and would the swimming lessons be part of that amount? Our son does not go to day-care or anything like that. She feeds, clothes, and houses him.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: How Much Should I Be Paying Exactly

    You are under no obligation whatsoever to pay anything more than what you are court-ordered to pay.

    Nothing more, nothing less.

    Usually extra curricular activities are discussed in the child support order but it can go either way; one parent pays or both parents split the costs. It may also depend on when the lessons are taking place (on whose parenting time).

    If I were you I'd go back to court to get it all sorted out; court orders protect ALL of you.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    529

    Default Re: How Much Should I Be Paying Exactly

    Quote Quoting Dogmatique
    View Post
    If I were you I'd go back to court to get it all sorted out; court orders protect ALL of you.
    This is a legal advice forum REMEMBER!!!!, what kind of advice is that? I am glad he not you!!!!

    Why would you advise someone to go to court to get the amount of child support they are require to pay increased?

    To the OP: You only have to pay what the Order states. Everything above that amount is voluntary. If you want to cut back, go ahead, as long your payments are equal too or more than amount required.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: How Much Should I Be Paying Exactly

    Quote Quoting Lawrence084
    View Post
    This is a legal advice forum REMEMBER!!!!, what kind of advice is that? I am glad he not you!!!!

    Why yes, yes it is!

    Now Lawrence, please explain how "court orders protect ALL of you" is inappropriate.

    Why would you advise someone to go to court to get their child support order Increased?

    I STRONGLY suggest you re-read our OP's post.

    Then come back and tell me why I said what I said.

    There is a VERY good reason.

    Let's see if you can figure it out

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    66

    Default Re: Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    Hm,sounds like a good Father and a decent human being.Probably not a good capitalist though.
    I would have to agree w/ Dogmatique.
    And I think it would make you the good guy to initiate it.
    Anyway as a Father of 4 I am impressed by your responsibility.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    529

    Default Re: Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    Quote Quoting Dogmatique
    View Post
    Why yes, yes it is!
    Now Lawrence, please explain how "court orders protect ALL of you" is inappropriate.
    If "court orders protect ALL of you", if that was the only part of your statement I would not have comment on it. Your complete statement does not fall under this forum, and the OP wasn't seeking protection from anything. "I STRONGLY suggest you re-read our OP's post."

    If you were really in his shoes, would you really gather up your Income Taxes from the past few years, all receipts and checks made out to the CP and Swimming lessons place and fill out all the paperwork for a modification to your order to increase your obligation and go to court to get the answer to the question, “How much should I be paying?”

    Next question....

    Quote Quoting Dogmatique
    View Post
    I STRONGLY suggest you re-read our OP's post.
    Then come back and tell me why I said what I said.
    There is a VERY good reason.
    Let's see if you can figure it out
    You gave advice to a simple question, “How much should I be paying?” In other words your advice is: Go to court and you will get the answer. True statement, it would answer 99.99% of the threads created on this forum. BUT you did not make any mention to the NCP that his financial requirement will increase. He is going to have to bring income tax forms and let the courts re-calculate his new requirement amount to pay. Also risking the courts making some kind of adjustment because his original order was based on him being unemployed. It is a very complex solution to a very simple question. It is another one of your sly way of giving NCP advice so the CP benefits. If the CP in this thread started a thread: My NCP of my child is almost paying 3 times the amount he was ordered to pay. How much should he be paying a month? Would you have given the same exact advice to the exact same question? If you were in her shoes, would you really go to court to get the answer???????

    Now that I tried you method of posting, I have no idea what enjoyment you get out of cattle prodding NCP posts, but I conclude it should be taken to another forum. Your agenda is sneaky and hurtful; I hope you are “Proud” of yourself.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    Quote Quoting Lawrence084
    View Post
    If "court orders protect ALL of you", if that was the only part of your statement I would not have comment on it. Your complete statement does not fall under this forum, and the OP wasn't seeking protection from anything. "I STRONGLY suggest you re-read our OP's post."

    If you were really in his shoes, would you really gather up your Income Taxes from the past few years, all receipts and checks made out to the CP and Swimming lessons place and fill out all the paperwork for a modification to your order to increase your obligation and go to court to get the answer to the question, “How much should I be paying?”

    Next question....


    You gave advice to a simple question, “How much should I be paying?” In other words your advice is: Go to court and you will get the answer. True statement, it would answer 99.99% of the threads created on this forum. BUT you did not make any mention to the NCP that his financial requirement will increase. He is going to have to bring income tax forms and let the courts re-calculate his new requirement amount to pay. Also risking the courts making some kind of adjustment because his original order was based on him being unemployed. It is a very complex solution to a very simple question. It is another one of your sly way of giving NCP advice so the CP benefits. If the CP in this thread started a thread: My NCP of my child is almost paying 3 times the amount he was ordered to pay. How much should he be paying a month? Would you have given the same exact advice to the exact same question? If you were in her shoes, would you really go to court to get the answer???????

    Now that I tried you method of posting, I have no idea what enjoyment you get out of cattle prodding NCP posts, but I conclude it should be taken to another forum. Your agenda is sneaky and hurtful; I hope you are “Proud” of yourself.


    What agenda would that be, dear?

    You DO realize that I'm currently a NCP, correct?

    Now, I shall explain why what I said is completely valid, because evidently you don't get it.

    This OP, as NCP, is paying FAR TOO MUCH child support. If he goes to court, the court will use the State guidelines, which will bring him back down to a reasonable amount. It will therefore be an order for LESS than the amount he's currently paying. Understand?

    OP should file to modify.

    My posts is PROTECTING THE NCP. If he files to modify, he WILL end up paying less. FOLLOWING THE STATE GUIDELINES.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    529

    Default Re: Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    You totally lost me.

    He required to pay $298 (or $398) a month (but pays $920 a month) and you are saying he will be ordered to pay less than $298 (or $398) if he takes himself to court, because of State guidelines? What is the State Guidelines, if you over pay x amount of months, your requirement to pay will be lower?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Toledo, OH
    Posts
    16,307

    Default Re: Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    No, she's saying he'll be ordered to pay far less than the $920 he's currently paying, and have a court order to confirm that amount so he's not getting bled dry.

    And good for the OP to want to pay the CORRECT amount!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Somewhere near Canada
    Posts
    35,894

    Default Re: Exactly How Much Child Support Should I Be Paying

    Quote Quoting LawResearcherMissy
    View Post
    No, she's saying he'll be ordered to pay far less than the $920 he's currently paying, and have a court order to confirm that amount so he's not getting bled dry.

    And good for the OP to want to pay the CORRECT amount!


    Thank you Missy.


    1. Sponsored Links
       

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Enforcing Custody Orders: Mother Hiding is Hiding the Child Even Though the Father is Paying Child Support
    By sun954 in forum Child Custody, Support and Visitation
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-19-2009, 06:28 AM
  2. Ex Wants To Stop Paying Support And Get Child Support, But I Can't Work
    By amypolnoff in forum Child Custody, Support and Visitation
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 05-26-2008, 03:12 PM
  3. Modification of Support: Paying Child Support When Child's Not Living At Home
    By fightinginms in forum Child Custody, Support and Visitation
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-07-2008, 04:59 PM
  4. Child Is 30 Years Old, And Parent Is Still Paying Child Support?
    By billiespring in forum Child Custody, Support and Visitation
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-07-2008, 02:45 PM
  5. Modification of Support: Parent Paying Child Support is Caring For the Child
    By loch in forum Child Custody, Support and Visitation
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12-04-2007, 02:23 PM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources