I think CS when custody is split 50/50 is such a scam... my XH and I split 50/50 and there is no CS and that's how we *both* want it.

Unfortunately our government doesn't *make* anyone get a job.

In most states in the US the intent of CS is to cover half of the living costs of the child while in the home or the Custodial Parent. As I said ..... intent. Reality is that most states also use CS as a household income equalization tool to give the Custodial Parent (most often the BioMom who may or may not work for an income) a similar lifestyle to the Non Custodial Parent.

Some jurisdictions even have Life Style Equalization stipulations that set CS so that the Skid(s) can have equal life styles in both households.

Fortunately most states still give the NCP credit for parenting time, credit for non joint children, and a living allowance that protects some of their income from being considered for setting CS levels.

Most jurisdictions stipulate that CS is the ONLY financial obligation that an NCP owes to a CP for support of joint children unless other expenses are stipulated in the Court Order.

In our case my wife (the CP for our son ... my SS) at the peak of CS for my SS received $385/Mo and half of any medical expenses for SS not covered by insurance in the Court Order that was supposed to paid by the SpermIdiot. The CS level includes half of the cost for my wife or I to cover SS on our health insurance plans and $50/Mo for child care which was supposed to stop when SS turned 13 but the SpermIdiot did not file for an amendment to get the $50 for child care dropped.

CS is a factor of the combined incomes of the BioParents to establish the available money to support the child then that number is divided by custody % with some level of CS going to the CP.

Most US states use a variation of the Income Shares method but there are differences between each state. The Uniform Child Custody and Jurisdiction Act provided for some consistency between states but there are a few states that you want to avoid if you are married or have a child with someone because they have some insane requirements. NY/CA to name two to be avoided.

Actually US$640/Mo is quite high for CS for a single child except when the NCP is an extremely high earner.

IMHO CS is ALL that should be paid to a CP. CS is not a life style supplement for the CP it is the NCPs contribution to the support of their child. Unfortunately there is no accountability for how he CP spends the CS and there is no legal requirement for the CP to work so in the US often the NCP gets screwed.

When my SS-18 was 1-17.99999yo we did not request that the SpermClan pay more than CS even when CS was only $110/Mo. We sent clothes with him and we demanded that they return with him from visitation.

He was never on an EOW/EOWE visitation since we have always lived no closer to SpermLand than 1200Mi. He visited the SpermClan for 7wks per year. 5Wks Summer, 1Wk Winter, 1Wk Spring. They paid for him to travel there, we paid to bring him home.

Just my thoughts of course.

Some states dont have alimony. For instance Wyoming has palimony...basically like alimony, but not. Alimony is illegal in wyoming. Palimony is stated in the divorce decree as spousal support, but wont hold up in court if the payments arnt made. I am not even sure if the payments go through the court. Both parties involved can decide how much and for how long. Remarriage seems to have no impact on the payments if they are ever made.

Hi - I am also from Australia and was so happy to find this website!! I feel like the prowling bitch from hell at home and need to be disengaged. I have been with the father of two boys - 34 and 36 - for about nine years now. The ex left him, took half their money initially with a fake solicitor's letter, then returned to claim the other half ...with a REAL solicitor's letter. I know, this does not say much for poor SD's mental capacity. Both skids ignored me for the first 3 or 4 years, although comments were flying when I wasn't around (I know this because I was told by a mother-in-law who loves to watch the sparks fly). The youngest skid I am OK with - he has his own home and is pleasant when he comes into the house - isn't that all we want????. The elder one is my problem. He is a "black hole" financially and virtually lives with us. He moved in with us a year or two ago and I tried to pay his bills and save up for him - teach him a little bit about how things should go when you need to function in society. I bent over backwards so that he and his son (grandchild) would be comfortable and thought I was doing good..until...I checked on his bank account. Of course there was nothing in it. He had $5000 worth of fines, $10,000 to pay on a repossessed car, the Sheriff was after him etc etc. He is incapable of taking responsibility for anything. I ended up screeching like a bagpipe, he then assaulted me and I demanded his absence finally. His father cannot tell him that we need a break - that 5-7 days per week is too much and skid wouldn't dream of considering anyone else. It's getting so that I am escaping to my PC room and crying more often than not while skid1 is in my kitchen with his mother (the ex) because he doesn't see that this would be a problem for me (this happened tonight, so I am blubbering over my keyboard right now. My bio-daughter visits us once every couple of months due to distance constraints, and SD niggles and complains every time she comes. I am so ANGRY and HURT and have nobody really to talk to about this. I feel as though I am in the wrong because skid1 is not nasty to me (to my face, anyway) - it's just "Oh, is it OK if I ate this?" (there goes the pavlova for dinner) or he complains about the standard of the food, or that there are not enough drinks etc etc. HOPE someone understands what I am menopausally trying to state here!!!!!! HELP