Ex-wife only has to pay $200 a month in child support. How is that going to help?

Question

My ex-wife is suppose to pay me $200 a month but she refuses to do it. Why does she have to pay so little? If it was the other way around and I had to pay it would be a lot more. I have custody. I only make 450 a week, Have to pay 750 rent and electric, gas and water, 240 truck note, groceries, and incidentals. I always hear of others child support being a lot more and wondering if it is because I am dad is why I get the least amount?

I have 2 kids.

Answer 1

You being a male are getting screwed by the system. Yes if it was the other way around you would be forced to pay more.

Answer 2

The amount of child support paid doesn't have anything to do with who actually has physical custody of the child. Most of the time the child support is based on the non-custodial parents income. They are usually required to provide the courts with proof of their income. The courts then calculate the child support on this. I know that in my state, the average amount of child support for one child is 20% of the non-custodial parents before taxes income. For 2 kids, it is 25%. If they have a child with a new wife, partner, then they do get a "break" of like 2%. There are online child support calculators that you can look at and if you know how much your ex wife makes, you can calculate how much child support she should be paying. I know that in my state, you can request a review of the child support amount every 3 years, however if the increase or decrease in the amount is less than a certain amount, they will not change the amount of child support. The reason you have heard of the child support being more for other people, is probably because the non-custodial parent in those cases makes more than your ex-wife. There is no "set amount" of child support that every non-custodial parent pays. It varies situation to situation. A parent who makes $1500 a month isn't going to pay as much child support as one who makes $3000 a month. Also, most states do not base the child support that is paid on what the custodial parent makes or the expenses they have. Meaning that the state is not going to take into consideration how much you pay in rent or how much your truck payment is. They might, however, take into consideration your insurance premiums, if you carry insurance on the child. She might have to pay you back at least half of your premiums.

Answer 3

No, this is based on her income just like your child support would be if you were paying her. My ex-husband made $35,000 a year, and I was given $350 a month for child support for one child.

Whether you have two kids or not does not matter. The first time that we became divorced, my ex-husband made a lot less money. We had 3 daughters at home at the time. I was given $250.00 a month. I also had bills, and I was only making $250.00 a week. I had to suck it up and get a second job. If he didn't have it, how was he suppose to give it to me?

Answer 4

you are not getting a lower amount just because you are a guy. Child support is based on income. If she is refusing to pay it she can eventually go to jail if it says in a court order she needs to pay it. Be careful too...don't withhold visitation just because she is withholding child support. If you do then you will be in violation of the court order and you will get in trouble too.

Answer 5

The child support is for the child, food, etc. Based on the income of how much the person who has to pay makes. Naturally it doesn't totally cover the cost in rearing a child in most cases, but helps.

Answer 6

In California it is a simple grid based on income, and potential earnings for both parties. I don't know where you live but (I am assuming there is one child) you are right, $200 won't go very far. If she fails to pay the courts can order it be deducted from her paycheck directly. Good Luck.

Answer 7

I know you well, for you are me. I receive no support for very good reason. I have sole custody of my 7 and 6 year old. I have taken care of them since my youngest was two weeks old. F her. She will get her just desserts. Besides, she won't have any rights to see them until she pays up. Richie has the right attitude.

Answer 8

The person you should be asking these questions to is a lawyer. Judges usually base child support on income. Try to go to court to get the order increased. Good luck.

Answer 9

It depends on how much your ex is making and how many kids you have. you should get a percent of what your ex's income is life thirty persent for three kids but it willl not go over fifty persent of her income. I think it's 15% for one kid 20% for two 30% for three 40% for four 50% for five and more. there are some book you can get ccalled the child custody book by James W. Stewert and there are a lot more you can get them at HAstings and books a million. good luck

Answer 10

Child support payments are based upon income both your ex's AND your's. Obviously the court has determined that based upon those facts you are only entitled to $200 for your CHILDREN. It has nothing to do with paying for your truck. As for gas for the truck, get an economy car, they don't take as much gas.

Answer 11

I think she is hiding income like not including tips etc. She can be taken back in to court and forced to pay more if she is actually making more.
Quite often income will be hidden like going part time or not working OT so when it is figured it is figured low. Wait until next April and then have her bring her Federal tax paperwork in to court to show what she is really making.