My friend and coworker is a good father. He has two kids who he has every other weekend. He makes $11 an hour, works 40 hours of hard work, and he pays 650 a month plus medical insurance for the kids. Thats $40 a week. He's working a second job just to afford to have his kids. I think its unfair.
2007-06-20 04:47:03 · 5 answers · asked by brjwatland 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Could you afford a decent place to keep your kids for the weekend....a reliable vehichle? Gotta have insurance on it...thats the law. Gas for the car? Food for you and the kids while they are with you? All on a weekly check of 160 dollars a week. Do the math and good luck.
2007-06-20 06:17:08 · update #1
Was child support set when he had a higher income? How long ago was it set? At $11/hr and 40 hrs/wk that is almost 35% of his income. It should not be that high for two children. Check the link and find your state--the guidelines for setting support per child should be on the state site. He should then contact his county CSA and ask for a review. Guidelines are just that--they are not set in stone, but unless there are special circumstances (or he is paying spousal maintenance as part of that figure) support for 2 children should be approx 25% of gross (give or take depending on state) or closer to $475/mo.
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html
2007-06-21 06:46:49 · answer #1 · answered by Cherie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In most states, when a child support order is decreed, both parents must provide a statement of their earnings and a break down of how their money is spent each month (ie;bills, rent, food, car payment) Going off of that info and also the age of the kids, the judge sets the child support payment amount for the non custodial parent.
In California, $650 plus medical support is getting off relatively cheap, especially for two children.
My advice would be that if he feels that the amount is truly a hardship for him, he needs to file an amendment to his child support order. Based on the evidence he will need to provide on his hardship, the judge may lower the amount for a time until he is able to pay the full amount again.
I know it probably doesn't seem fair to you, but your friend and coworker probably understands the fact that raising kids does not come cheap, nor should it. It is also not the responsibility of ONE parent to shoulder the burden financially, but both parents equally. I think he is doing a fine job of showing his children that he is taking responsibility by doing his fair share of financial support. Sadly, many don't.
2007-06-20 04:58:20 · answer #2 · answered by Whyruafraid? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only people that the law needs to be fair to is the children, they didnt ask for the divorce, hads no part in it, take it from someone that has paid considerably more than your friend, working a second job thru my years of support didnt kill me
2007-06-20 04:50:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
perhaps he should have thought about affording the kids before he had them. Kids cost money, all kids, wither or not the parents are married or not. $650 a month is not very much money. He is getting off light.
2007-06-20 04:59:02 · answer #4 · answered by gypsygirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its unfair because.....he had prior responsibilty, and is taking care of it...
or...your at the bottom of the food chain?
2007-06-20 04:53:26 · answer #5 · answered by DennistheMenace 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋