California Child Support Questions?

Question

First off I was ordered to pay child support of $188 every 2 weeks, That has been being taken out of my paychecks, That was understandable (the first check that was all that was deducted from my net pay.) Then on my second check (2 weeks later) They took out $188, Plus now they take out an extra $18 for dental and $77 for medical benifits. My job has insurance, at that rate. A total of $284 each check now. I make $10 /hr. work 35-40 hours a week and after taxes that will leave me with $800 a month. My rent is $600, Bills $150 and i owe $8,000 on a credit card with a minimun payment of $230 a month. My car ins. Is $50 a month, Thats a Total of $1030 of bills I am required to pay. Im -230 a month to pay my bills, and thats if i dont eat or spend any money on gas or anything else.

Well my other question, If im paying $200 a month on medical insurance for the child, I pay that on top of the ordered child support payments?

This is all being taken out of my check so i have no say in it. But i read somewhere that if im providing insurance at a cost my child support payments are lower. ?

And What does Disposable Mean? It says on the papers i have my disposable income is $658 for each pay period. Is disposable income the net income after taxes? Or my income left after i pay bills and rent?

I do not see the child at all. I want nothing to do with her mother last time i saw her she tryed to burn down my house, When she filied the paper work I think she said I made a little more then i do, and she makes less then she does. Now i hear she got a new job making 35k a year, Also Im getting married next month and have a new child on the way, will that affect my payments at all if i have a new family to support?

Thank you for any help you may be able to offer

Answer 1

you are complaining about the cost of children and YOUR HAVING ANOTHER ONE?!!

its not easy on anyone involved; you, your new wife, your ex, your child(ren), and now your new one.


you pay what? 400? 600? 900?

ok, lets see...
rent; 1000
electric 300
food 400-600
diapers 75-150 per month (fluctuates when baby is sick or teething)
heat 300
phone/cable 100
auto; (for doctors, dentists, take to school when they miss the bus, pick up when sick, pick up medicines, get food) 200
clothing/shoes/boots 200-400 every 2 to 3 months (seasonal and they grow)

that doesnt even include daycare, school supplies, hair cuts, class trips, class pictures, over the counter medicines, prescriptions, laundry det, dish det, cleaners, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, christmas, easter, tooth fairy, birthdays, etc. and sooo much more.

--the medical insurance you pay for monthly is FAR cheaper then paying for it out of pocket, even if it was split 70/30 or 60/40. one medicine for a child easily runs $75-$120. Be greatful you have insurance, 47 million americans dont.
--the cleanings for dental are $130, so your saving money with your dental/medical plans. i want your insurance!!
--the child support ordered today is not based upon one set amount per child (as done years ago), but rather is based upon BOTH parents incomes. if a parent doesnt work, they calculate an income for them (most states).
--35-40hrs a week of work isnt enough for yourself let alone a new family. get more hours, like the rest of america does.
--second job would help too.
--the amount of child support you pay doesnt pay much, so stop whining. you will see how much kids really cost when you have the new baby... kids are expensive.

--i go through 1 gallon of milk a day in our house; thats $3.50 per day x's 30... almost $100 a month in milk, and thats JUST MILK.

--again, its not easy on anyone involved. hardship is an understatement, but we all do the best we can.
-money saving; change all light bulbs to those engery saving bulbs. they are expensive but they dropped my electric bill by 30 a month.

install a hot water heater timer; they cost about $60, but it cut my electric almost in half (with it turned off all night, switches on for a few hours in the morning, off all day, then on again at dinner time, then off again all night).

pack lunch. i save $40-75 a week just by this one simple act.

no newspapers, no magazines, no extras. once a month we treat to buy a pizza, and its a big event in our house.

suk it up like the rest of us out here and stop whining. be greatful your kids are healthy and taken care of. it could be worse.

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http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp

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Answer 2

Only a lawyer licensed to practice law in California can answer your question and, honestly, it would have to be one that regularly practices in front of the judge your case is going to be heard by. However, I can tell you that most states frown upon people taking time off from work or changing careers to lower paying jobs. They will "impute" the higher income to you since it was your choice not necessity that made you choose the lower paying job. That said, the fact your ex is now making more money ($58000 vs. $30000 when you got divorced) would reduce your child support in and of itself even if they still act like you're making $55,000 unless they changed the child support guidelines drastically in the last few years. Call around, see what an initial consultation would cost. Where I am, lawyers still sometimes give free intial consultations (believe it or not) or charge a reduced rate for the consultations. Or check with your local bar association and/or state bar association. Most have a referral service where people who go through the bar association get a discount rate on the initial consultation. My best guess, not being familiar with California laws nor licensed to practice law there (therefore, this is just a guess) would be that you can have the child support lowered somewhat, probably not totally eliminated since now she's paying the health insurance and you quit providing the insurance without getting permission of the court, but most states let one parent claim the kid one year and the other claim the kid the other year... especially since you now have another kid that you're claiming. See a lawyer. Check around to see who is good but not charging an arm and a leg. The money spent on a good family lawyer is always well invested because it can save you hundreds of dollars per month for years, however long it takes for your kid to emancipate.

Answer 3

when your new child is born your payments might go down some. yes the medical is on top of the support. This is a sad thing to say but I understand about your wages. My brothers paychecks every 2 weeks are for 1 penny and the next two weeks it is for 2.00 dollars. After your baby is born ask for a review. Also try and find love in your heart for your child even though you dislike the mother. Please don't make your child suffer not having you as a part of its life because of her.

Answer 4

If you have the child insured then you can demand that thy stop taking the money. Most likely they will not until you hire a law2yer that knows about these things then they will act like it was just a mistake but you will not get your money back.

I had enough of the crap in the USA and left 15 years ago and have not regretted it. I have a nery good life.

Answer 5

Another whining deadbeat! If you are having trouble making ends meet, get a part-time job, collect soda cans, flip burgers somewhere. The child is a responsibility you will have until he/she is grown - and it makes no difference if you see the child or not. You made a baby and you have to take care of it.

And, no, remarrying will not effect what you are obligated to pay. You are first responsible for any children you have produced.

Answer 6

Being a man in California domestic courts, you are pretty much screwed. The father is looked at as if he is a piece of fesces.

But I'd at least attempt to make an appeal for reduced payments due to her increased salary.

Answer 7

Either pay it or go to jail or move away and don't let the ex know where your at. they will eventually catch up to you though and you'll have to pay a bunch all at once.
As a man, you ALWAYS get screwed over in divorce court. The best thing is to never get married. ONly the woman benefits from marriage.

Answer 8

Were you ordered to have insurance for the Child? If you were then Yes they can Add the child to the Insurance. It's that way in most states.

Answer 9

If you can't afford one child why are you having another! Better get off your butt and find a decent paying job, you've got responsibilities, be a man and accept it...