Chid Support -- is it fair?
By momokoseiya
@momokoseiya (453)
United States
January 25, 2007 4:33pm CST
I am a single mom to a beautiful 15 month old son. His father has been absent in his life for the past few months now. I currently have a child support order, but he is not paying. Since we have one child together, the court takes 17% of his pay. He works part time in retail, so he does not make that much. I work full time, so I am able to support my son no matter what.
Shouldn't support be based on how much a person earns, not by a percentage? I'm sure if someone had a child with Donald Trump, she happy with 17% of his income for her child, but that isn't the case here.
That, and who is to say that 17% of one person's income is enough? A child is supposed to be a 50/50 responsiblity, is it not?
I just want to see what your opinions on the system are.
2 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
25 Jan 07
That is a different way to figure out child support. I don't think my ex-pays 17% of his monthly income. It is on a sliding scale down here and takes into account expenses and credits each parent has for the child (ie health care, child care tax credit). One thing that I found out through my MIL about New York state is that they make you pay support until the child is 21 if they are in school. Down here in Louisiana the cut off is 18 even if they are in school.
@momokoseiya (453)
• United States
25 Jan 07
See, that is really fair of your state. I do believe that more should be taken into account when it comes to support.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
27 Jan 07
In reality, what ever amount he is suppose to be paying you he can get changed. All he needs to do is get a mediator and you both sit down with them, come up with a number that he can reasonably pay every month, then add in certian things he will pay above and beyond - medical insurance, reimburse you for out of pocket medical over a certian amount, a percentage of daycare, etc.
@ashjoe76 (1422)
• India
25 Jan 07
Yes, I agrew with you that for child support, the percentage of one's earnings, regardless of the amount he urns is a bit improper. And, a child needs support from both parents. And in cases where the parents have decided to stay apart and one parent is in custody of the child, timely support from the other parent needs be ensured, on mutual agreement.
