I already pay Child Support, should I be giving more?

Question

I pay $550 a week in child support. I'm divorced and there is nothing in the agreement that says I have to pay half of day care or for birthday parties, etc.. Should I give my wife half of day care and anything else she wants that is not in the settlement agreement? She says, if I don't, she will take me back to court.

The thing is she says she works but it's basically part time during the night. She lives with her Mom. I have two kids and was ordered to pay $550 a week. I know the child support doesn't go 100% to the children but there's nothing I can do about that. I make a very good living and could give her more money but I think she should be doing something for the kids as well. Again, she's not the greatest person in the world when it comes to parenting and talking about me in front of the kids. My Son is almost 6 and she just took the pacifier away from him. He has not used it around me since he was 2 1/2.

Answer 1

If you have receipts let her take you to court and see what she gets unless you have lots of kids you are paying more than any court would order in child support. Don't get me wrong I am a firm believer that men should help pay to take care of their children but $2200.00 a month in child support is ridiculous. How do you live? In some cases you can request proof of what she is spending money on and you might want to consider that option.

Answer 2

I thought the child support was supposed to be paying "your half" of birthday parties and daycare. Where do you draw the line. Here is the problem with cs... The non-custodial parent is forced by law to do the right thing. Which is help support the children financially. But the custodial parent is not required to do anything.. Where does accountability begin and end? My hubby's ex refuses to work. So we pay our child support and try to wish her the best. We used to give extra here and there, but we realized it was only enabling her to do nothing. If she threatens court, threaten it right back. Grounds would be that she can't or won't take the initiative to attempt to provide for the child/children. Say you can prove you can provide a stable environment for them. If she doesn't want to lose the children, or her free ride, she will probably back off. She will never act responsibly until she is forced to. Be confident you are doing all you can, and it seems you are doing the right thing. She is not your child or your responsibility.

Answer 3

That should have been discussed when the child support was being agreed upon and the court signed off on it. Recheck you child support agreement. You are already paying her $2200 a month in child support and I would think daycare is a part of the payments you are already making. As for birthday parties and gifts, it should be something you both discuss and agree about before hand. My parents discussed every gift and party my brother and I ever had. They always came to a mutual agreement on stuff not covered in the child support agreement.

Answer 4

Well you are paying alot at 550 a week, but it would be nice but I dont think it is required. Maybe she should learn to work with what you have or make a comporise on saying you will help to a certain amount extra. I am not sure that going back to court will do much since you are paying child support. It would look kind of funny saying she wants more money so she can pay for birthday parties. lol I dont know some people always want more.

Answer 5

Let her take you back to court if she thinks that will get more money out of you. My ex husband only pays $430 a month and believe me for 2 kids that isn't much to get by on.
But you are court ordered to pay child support if she takes you back to court the judge will just tell her to use the money she is already getting from you.
Birthday parties are something that should come out of her pocket not yours. As for daycare she must be working so why is it so hard for her to come up with that part of raising the kids. She has to be making it good with your 2000 a month plus whatever she makes. She is being greedy to be honest with you.

Answer 6

If it is not stated any where in the settlement agreement, tell her to take you back to court. She won't win. You are in your rights. I know that money a parent receives is not always enough.., but 550 dollars a week , I would take any day. She should thank her luck stars , you are a good father and paying what you do. My ex only has to pay 80 dollars a week and he is way behind and has skipped the state, and he is an over the road truck driver who makes good money.
Good luck Dad keep it up.

Answer 7

Let her take you back to court!! She is getting what $2,200
a month for child support. Is that just for one child? Because if
she takes you to court doesn't she have to pay the court costs? That is what the money is for. To help with child care,bills,rent whatever.Because a child needs these things.Do you get to come to the birthday parties? I don't see anything wrong with helping out with a party if you are included. Some women just kill me with wanting more and more.Talk to whom ever you had your child support meeting with or your lawyer.My son is 13 years old and his father paid child support maybe the first 2 years of his life. Never helped buy clothes for school or if he did they were from the Salvation Army or Goodwill.I did it on my own.She should be happy with what she is receiving from you and leave it at that!I can guarantee that she is the kind that bad mouths you in front of the child or (children)which is not right.I hope that you can get this resolved.Do you get visitation? Every parent has the right to spend qualitytime with their child and the child needs to have the same quality time with their parent.I hope that this will help you figure out what you need to do.She must like to spend her money on alot of court fees.Good Luck!!! My son father only had to pay$150.00 a month and he carried on.

Answer 8

To me, the answer to this question boils down to how much time you are spending with your children. If you split the visitation time with your children 50/50 with your wife, then no, you shouldn't be paying any more. This is because I would assume that if you have them 50% of the time, that you are making your own arrangements for their daycare and their birthday parties while they are in your care.

If you don't spend that much time with the kids, and your wife is the only one providing them with daycare and birthday parties, then yes, she should ask, and will most likely get more from the courts.

My ex and I have 50/50 custody. At the current time, he is deployed with his reserve unit, although he is stateside. When he is in town (and lives 6 miles away) I rarely, if ever ask for more money for the boys we share, because he has them so often. Lately, since I have them 98% of the time, I do call, or email, for extra bday money, or extra money for whatever they may need.

Remember, the childsupport is for the care and raising of your children, not so your ex can sustain her lifestyle. $550 a week is steep.....hope you don't have vagina-mony (alimony) to also pay out.....lol

Answer 9

Let her take you back to court. That's what child support is used for the care of the child. The courts not going to make you pay more money because she wants to have a birthday party.
In Missouri they can only take you back for a modification every 3 yrs. So I pay the consulting fee or go back the atty. you used for your divorce, and talk to him.
I'm not saying eat steak in front of kids while they starve to death, but the extras should be given freely not by threats, as a matter of fact I wouldn't say anything to her about your doing and record her trying to extort more money from you.
I've done the same thing including, after talking with my wife gave my ex a car, so she could bring the kids to me as she was supposed to, she got the car, and never one time used it to bring the kids to me.


Hope this helps

Answer 10

if u give her money a month then the extra come from the kindness of your heart..she cant get nothing else if she took u back to court cause its been settled..thats just a line girls use to get more..im a woman myself..if u pay child support then she cant withhold the kids from u or u can take her to court..trust me..she wont want that..your a good man if u giving her child support an extra on the side..$550 suppose to take care of day care.thats included in the $550..