HOW DO I FIGURE OUT what  i should be paying in child support based on my circumstances?
93014
your state must not have a scale that is used based on her income and your income. dont go to jail. go to court. have the younger son talk to the judge alone in chambers. it can make all the difference. your attorney can set it up with out her knowing until the last minute. fight for your kids. hope your older son gets better soon.
615217
It all depends on the parents' relative incomes. The site below will give you an estimate, but you should probably speak to a lawyer.
991918
If you have the children the same amount of time, then I think you are fine. I would question why you even pay the $200. Child support is for food, rent, living expenses. You pay the same by splitting the duties. It should come out even. But, I'm not divorced so I don't know the rules of custody.  It sounds like the people who have answered this already are not realizing the "joint-custody" issue, or don't understand what it means.\n\nCOOL, by the time I got this posted some others have said the same!!
968969
I'm sure it varies according to what state you are in, but child support is usually determined as a percentage of a person's net income.  Usually something like 20% for one child or 25% for two children, but can be manipulated by a judge in a divorce decree to state anything that is agreed upon.  Usually, a person who makes $2000. per month would pay $400 per month in child support....something like that.
420586
Go here...\n\nhttp://www.alllaw.com/calculators/Childsupport/california/\n\nAnd type in your numbers.  The amount of the insurance premium that YOU pay that covers the CHILDREN.  So of coverage for you would be $200/month, you get to claim the extra $200 that provides coverage for the children.\n\nBut use the support calcualtor and you can get a good idea.
285767
No and this should be set by the courts. Talk to your local governing body for child welfare or who instructs you to pay the money.
375617
I am assuming you are asking how do you handle paying child support when you have a child that does not live with you and two that do?  Or maybe none of them do?\n\nAnyway, when the court orders child support, if you have other children at that time, they are included in the child support calculation.  (biological or adopted children only, step-children so not count)  If you have the children after the child support has been ordered, you can ask for the court to re-visit the order and try to get a decrease, but it may not be advisable, depending on your situation.\n\nIf you have more than one child support order for children that do not live with you, there is an order of priority established if necessary.  The first order files receives priority over any additional orders.  But again, the difference in the two amounts would be a nominal precentage.\n\nThis may differ by state, but that is how it works in my state...
88847
Im not sure what state you live in but in ohio we have a 1-800 number that you can call and put in your social ssecurity number and find out if a case has been court ordered and how much u owe. Besides that all I can say is look up in the white pages your local child support agency and call them and ask.
251363
You need to go to the Department of Human Services (formally Family Independence Agency) and fill out an application.  They want to know how much $$ you have made this month and are planning to make.
144477
Sorry this is so long, but bear with me.\n\nThe law begins with the premise that you are the father and share in the obligations of your own child's upbringing. What you are asking is to have an exception or an easing of the costs based on need because of financial strain or unfairness due to the inequity of paychecks. Your side will be the one to have to convince and persuade because her side has law. In the end, even a good persuasive argument may not stand if there are no laws with which to draw on in your favor.\n\nLook closely at your side then. I am not trying to attack your side by these questions. I am merely saying that such questions may be asked by the legal decision makers or legal financil aid providers and you need to know your side has the strength to convince. Here are some questions to be prapared on:\n\nIs your limited income due to irresponsibility - Did you have to get a new job because you were fired from your old one? Have you wasted reasonable opportunities to have a better job - For example, do you have a degree and qualifications for a better job but chose a low paying job instead?\n\nWill your income likely grow again in the near future - Eight years ago we moved to a new state and my husband had to begin over again on the payscale. We began that first year on less than 18K, but we moved up quickly to now being quite comfortable by regional average income standards. If you are likely to move up in pay, that will be taken into account especially if you are asking to be excused altogether from the burden of support.\n\nHow much money is needed to raise a child in the location in which this child is being raised - Surely 70K/year would be far in excess of expenses where we live and perhaps where you live. However, if your child is being raise in many of the large cities in the Northeast or California it may take about that much to survive there.\n\nIs the $70K all the income from your wife's side? Has she remarried and has her husband's income too? If so, is that 70K a combined income from her own and her husband's income?\n\nHave you provided more than monetary support? Have you been a father beyond the child support payment? If you have been actively engaged in your child's life you will have a more convincing argument than if you haven't had anything to do with him.\n\nWhat were the conditions leading to divorce? Obviously if divorce occured because she was unfaithful you will have a stronger side than if you were unfaithful or abusive. Some would think that if you messed up in these ways you made your own bed and by paying you are reaping what you have sown.\n\nHaving such information as her being able to afford Cancun while you are barely able to afford groceries is very helpful, but make sure no holes can be poked through it. Did she really use the child support money for that vacation? Was the vacation specifically in the child's interest. It doesn't sound like it, but again it is your side that will have to do the proving not hers.\n\nOK. That is the end of the questions. I hope you understand my motives are just to make you realize that you will be the one with the uphill battle. If you are using an overworked public attorney and she has an elite, smooth talking lawyer your side cannot afford to be unprepared for such questions.\n\nI do feel for you. I want to tell a true story that I feel applies when it comes to grace under unjust circumstances. I know a pastor who lovingly was counciling a man who asked him for help. This guy was having a secret affair with the pastor's wife the whole time that this pastor poured his energies into being a help to him. It all came out when she got pregnant. The pastor wanted to save the marriage in spite of it. Instead, she began lying and demanded a divorce. This poor man lost his pastorate becauset he congregation didn't want a divorced man leading their church. Because he lost that job, he couldn't get full custod
11085
You have to include the household income of the parent you're living on right now. You can also check which one of them have you as a direct dependant on their tax return. Not both of them can have you there and the government will also use that information as a decision point.
80358
You could call your local Child Support Enforcement Agency.  We are going through that also.
482344
Could be looking into the earnings of the parent paying support. Depends on jurisdiction how often that can be adjusted up or down (usually up.)
45286
They can continue untill the amount due is paid off. If you are falling behind, it sounds like you are paing less than your monthly obligation, you should atleast pay that. Once your obligation to pay suppor thas stopped (may not be 18, will continue untill HS grad atleast even if over 18, may continue in to college...) then you would still have to pay any amounts that you have not already paid.\n\nIf your child support obligation is out of line with your income, you should discuss the issue with a lawyer. You may be able to get your monthly amount reduced.
1036062
child support is for the child and you should be ashamed to ask that question. that is not enough to care for a child no matter what the amount of payment. take care of the children
932275
Wow!  You are in for a battle.  Call the child support office first.  If they can't or won't help you, you'll probably have to get an attorney.   If you're really owed the money, don't let them keep it.   It CAN be done.   Good lluck
797994
Ask your attorney.  Thats what you pay them for