Should they change the term child support to 'child ransom'?

Question

According to some states the minimum is $350.00 a month. If this were truely the case how in the hell could anyone afford to raise children?
Ransom makes more sense anyways because usually mom takes the children and legally kidnaps them and then dad is fored to pay thousands of dollars in order to be a visitor in the childs life.
Agree?

For those of you attacking me as a 'dead beat'. I am not ordered to pay and I see my kids half the time. If I was ordered to pay I would, as long as I can afford it. However child support calculators usually issue huge amounts of child ransom to those who are not custodial parents (AKA dad).

Evidently none of you have been the victim of family law.

Answer 1

Child support is separate from visitation and just about every state makes that pretty clear. A parent cannot refuse visitation just because the other parent is not paying child support. So no, child support is not "child ransom".

Most states calculate a figure based on the income of both parents. I don't know what states require the minimum to be $350 a month. I have never heard of that before and would love to see proof of that claim. But even so - I guarantee that the custodial parent has to spend a lot more than $350 a month to take care of those children (or child).

Answer 2

Sorry - but No I don't agree - $350 a month is a pittance of the actual cost of caring for a child and won't even put a dent in child care - this cost is barely enough for groceries, it doesn't take into consideration - medical, dental, emergency, clothing, entertainment, education... Bottom line kids are expensive and the parent who has full custody (mom or dad - in some cases another family or friend of the family) can use any financial help they can get. The child is here and if it is your genetic material you should be happy to contribute to the well being and care of the child. Most people confuse child contribution with spousal support - they are two different things and if your child's Mom has full custody and is refusing you proper access and participation in your child's life you should contact a Father Support group for a good arbitrator to clear up that as the DAD you have the right to participate in your child's life and if all you can afford is the state minimum of $350 your time is valuable too and is a fair trade for child care expenses. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I guess, Joe, if I were a guy, and didn't want any children, I wouldn't impregnate a woman... I'd get a vasectomy... that would solve the problem. Of course, it takes some planning ahead, to decide if indeed one wishes to sink $250,000 into the rearing of a child to age 18... Again, it takes planning and some real self analysis. Dad didn't need to be a dad... it takes two. Perhaps we should be teaching stuff like this in school.... of just how really unromantic it is to have a baaayyyybeeeee, and how expensive, and how it changes relationships, usually for the worse. We don't. Blame our educational system And as a public school teacher, my deepest apologies.

Answer 4

Well, I guess it all depends.... I have 2 kids and the cheapest daycare I could find is $150.00 a week. Thats about $600.00 a month, so is it $350.00 for a child? Or more than one?

I know in LA, I looked into it when we were going to divorce, and he was going to have to pay 1/2 of the daycare costs plus about $600.00 a month in child support... Now if you look at certain things, like the fact that I would need at least a 3 bedroom, and he needs a 1 bedroom, then the $600.00 goes towards rent, utilities, food, clothing, etc... So is it ransom? Think about it... The non-custodial parent pays, while the custodial parent has all the bills. Besides, we worked it out, and seeing how much of his check goes for bills, he actual told me $600.00 wasn't enough help... So, you can look at it your way, I look at it my way. Thats the beauty of opinions. :-)

Answer 5

That is stupid.....Where do you get off by saying that usually the mom takes the children and kidnaps them and the dad is forced to pay thousands in order to be a visitor in their kid's life? Maybe this is the case for you...but I don't think this is the way it generally is.

Answer 6

Nope. If you've ever raised kids, $350 is peanuts compared to the actual costs. If you bring a baby into the this world, even by accident, you have to pay for half that baby's expenses. So does mom.

Answer 7

Have you ever lived in the same home with your children? Have you paid for their food, their school items, their clothing, shoes, bicycles, toys [so they aren't looked down on for being the poor white trash], sports, doctor bills, dental bills, and Christmas presents for Grandma? It doesn't sound like you have ever experienced what it's like to raise children. They're expensive. One is good. More than one? Way too many in today's expensive world! It costs a lot, and no, there is none leftover for Mom to go gamble it away at the casino as men claim their exwives do. There is nothing left! If you make the babies, you must pay for the babies, and you really ought to stay home and help raise them, too.

Answer 8

No, I don't agree to your stupidity! Sure there are some dads out there who want to be involved with their kids, but not all of them. Most times the dad leaves the kids with the mom and goes lives his life his way and then decides when he can grace his kid with his presence. They sired the child, they should help support it and if they don't want to pay seperate for it then try to make the marriage work instead of treating marriage as disposable the way so many of our generation does. Hardly anyone makes it past 7 years these days and its really sad that no one trys.

Answer 9

Nope, I don't agree. I've never heard of a minimum. My understanding is that it's a percentage of the parent's income. And "legally" the mom can't refuse visitation for non payment. You would just have to enforce your rights.

Answer 10

It takes two to make a child. If you have children you should be prepared to pay for their upkeep. They are for life and not just for Christmas.