What do you pay for child support?

denkrak · 2025-08-22T13:16:54+00:00

I agreed to pay her 3k plus all medical dental for the kids. Make around $170k she makes 0 but will get a job she said. I get to keep my 401k because I offered to pay way higher child support. I will probably take care of the college as well since I am the one who is contributing to their 529 plans. 2 kids. I will share 70/30. It is better for me because I want to focus on my career and only spend best time with the kids.

Signal-Factor-6336 · 2025-03-02T03:46:17+00:00

I am in process of divorce...don't have to pay child support because I have a soon-to-be 24 year old who is on his own and a junior in college. Just have to pay the last year of school and other things before he gets a fulltime job (car insurance).

She didn't start working until 3 years ago and it's only 20 hours/week. I am around $120-140K depending on OT in a given year.

We live in CT so alimony is half the marriage, not lifetime...so 12 years and half of everything else - house, 401k, pension.

She's almost 55...I am 53

I want $500/week plus a pct of yearly bonus (if we get one). She pleaded to me for $600/week today. Granted, she only makes about $1K/month (she is a clerk in an office). She says she is trying to get a fulltime job but not getting anything. I am debating if I keep it to $500 because I feel she will get that fulltime job after we agree. She has her issues (I do too) but in the end we just were not happy with one another and I want to move on.

I do feel guilty for trying to play hardball but I think she may be pulling something to milk me of more.

Confident-Insurance6 · 2025-02-28T15:39:13+00:00

Do you have a mortgage? Who assumes the payments?

Par_then_Bar · 2025-02-28T13:40:28+00:00

I make $500k a year and after my spousal support is done I’ll pay $1150 for child support. My state has a calculator I highly recommend you find one for your state or use one close to your state. Tell your lawyer to kick rocks! What are you paying them for?

jkw118 · 2025-02-28T13:31:00+00:00

So u make close to what I do, but I got the kids like 75-85% of the time.. but in my state assuming I had 50/50 and my ex makes almost nothing.. it's 250-350/kid. I agree with you, 1500 on your salary would basically mean your living in a small apartment if your lucky.. that's almost a mortgage.. The question also is, are they counting spousal support in that? Which I'm sure their trying not to.. That can essentially your combined salaries (110+80)/2=95k so you'd have to give her 15k every year /12 = 1250 /month add on the child costs and it gets you to their number. In my brain.. it adds up.. but spousal support is based off how long you've been together, in any case it's a q of really how fd over you'll feel and how much you can persuade people. I've heard of people trying to combine the two, and since a spousal support is shorter time.. by combining it on childsupport they can make it longer..

ConfidenceNo242 · 2025-02-27T17:11:10+00:00

Way too high to pay. Your difference in pay isn’t much. She can demand whatever she wants the judge will decide cs

Objective-Fan-5464 · 2025-02-27T16:43:47+00:00

$2300/month for 2 children but I'm in Texas and there's a cap.

mikegatt90 · 2025-02-27T12:09:58+00:00

811 for 1 kid, and we have joint physical and legal, and her trifling ass still can't be on time for our meetups. Her being late the last time cost me a job interview, and I was a strong candidate.

Inevitable-Guide-874 · 2025-02-27T09:36:39+00:00

Make sure you do pay at least the statutory amount.

Dont fall into the trap of offsets that the kids will not understand, plus ex can weaponize the situation.

Dealt with a divorce where ex gave up highly valuable house so he did not have to hassle with child support issues. His income varied a lot, plus wife kept dragging him back to court, which cost even more with legal fees.

Well, ex could honestly state that "you dad does not pay any child support (or low cs) so.you can't do this activity or you have to wear hard me downs, or, no prom dress, etc.

Wife never explained about highly valuable house to the kids.

Also dealt with kids who learned how the formula works and if one parent somehow pays too little, they could conclude that the parent: 1. Does not love them, 2. Is the horrible person the primary says he/she is, or 3. Truly is a deadbeat. Even worse when he remarried and has a more prosperous lifestyle. Of course, there is no explanation that new wife has a high income. All the kids understand is what they see and what their mom tells them.

It is almost symbolic.

If you pay the statutory formula, you could tell the kids that "I pay the legal formula per the court order that the judge decided and signed."

Ideally, the kids are not privy to grown-up issues, but kids these days find out all kinds of things, including myths about the legal system.

chimps20 · 2025-02-27T03:05:32+00:00

$60000/year $500. I started earning a lot less after my divorce as i wanted to change careers.

I paid her out $72000 in 8 years.

It was brutal I never missed a payment. My suggestion is trying to live in a really cheap place.

It sucks

Ok_Trade_1405 · 2025-02-27T01:11:57+00:00

63k a year 800 a month. 1 kid she makes nothing

hotantipasta · 2025-02-27T00:23:01+00:00

Are there any childcare costs or costs for medical insurance? If so then those might go into the calculation.

Mansa_Musa20 · 2025-02-27T00:09:45+00:00

Btw your number seems high 50/50 split and income gap of about 25k 1500 is absurd… 😑

Mansa_Musa20 · 2025-02-27T00:00:13+00:00

35/65 spilt which I intend on fighting in till it’s 50/50 currently paying $932 a month for 2 kids my salary at the time of divorce 121k hers 0 😑. She had to take her ass back to work though 😊so filling a mod soon

Signal-Dot2326 · 2025-02-26T23:51:56+00:00

If you're in Illinois and you have more then 146 overnights the CS is nothing else you make 200k and she makes 50k, if it's 49/51 and you're in Illinois CS should be nothing

Chris_Chilled · 2025-02-26T23:37:12+00:00

Two kids, shared legal custody 6040 physical custody her favor (for now). I’m paying $3000 a month. This includes the cost of daycare, private school tuition and and after school care

Perfect_Lead1883 · 2025-02-26T22:37:17+00:00

3 kids. $190/mo 😎

AntHamel · 2025-02-26T22:32:55+00:00

50/50 here also 2 kids and it's $850 a month- with a much larger difference between income than you guys have.

Where on earth did $1500 come from?? Think that's a bluff to get you to agree to a higher amount than you're obligated to pay.

MutedLocal33 · 2025-02-26T22:06:48+00:00

5 kids. 180k a year. 4k a month.

yeldellmedia · 2025-02-26T22:06:26+00:00

2 kids: 50/50 pay 5 dollars a week

Heavy_Guitar_4848 · 2025-02-26T22:02:29+00:00

Made the same amount and pay $2065/M

OctinoxateAndZinc · 2025-02-26T20:56:46+00:00

ALSO IN ILLINOIS - Please read my comment

her lawyer is claiming I owe $1500/month plus medical.

That is just them being nuts and designed to send you into freak out mode. Take a deep breath. This will not be it.

Have your attorney draft a calculation based off the "Shared Physical Care Support Obligation Worksheet" and send it back. If they are using 3rd party software it might be coming up with all sorts of added BS (my stbxs attorney used something like that) but we just used the IL worksheet and the court was fine with it.

Its on this page: https://hfs.illinois.gov/childsupport/parents/incomeshares.html

This should be the doc at the bottom: DIRECT LINK -https://hfs.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/hfs/sitecollectiondocuments/standalonesharedphysicalcaresupportobligationworksheet.pdf
CUSODY might not equal TIME - CS in IL is based on OVERNIGHTS. If you have 50/50 Overnights THOSE are what need to be factored.

Edit: i wish i could find an excel version but your attorney should have it/be familiar with this sheet. If not, yeah, get a new lawyer.

51% custody is 186/179 days if its TRUE 51%

50/50 TIME is 183/182 with a parent named as primary.

FYI: If YOU are carrying insurance that would LESSEN what you're paying in CS so maybe, if advisable/cheaper, take on your kid. I see in your other comment there are TWO kids - MAKE SURE YOU'RE ONLY CALCULATING INSURNACE FOR YOUR ONE CHILD - I bet the other lawyer is sneaking in the Cost of BOTH of them in the calc. Your should NOT have to pay CS or insurance costs for any child that is not legally yours.

RollQuick3579 · 2025-02-26T20:32:31+00:00

How many children?

brightongulls · 2025-02-27T02:44:27+00:00

Thankfully nothing and we split basically every expense 50/50.

Normal-Employee-5618 · 2025-02-26T20:51:54+00:00

You have 50/50 it should be $0

RichardCleveland · 2025-02-26T20:50:52+00:00

Her lawyer is going to "claim" all sorts of BS, and normally at this stage people shoot for as much as they can. If the calculator is coming out to just a 3rd, counter offer somewhere around that. Your lawyer should've immediately slid the paper back across the table, wtf is he doing?

bes753 · 2025-02-26T20:48:07+00:00

Mine is $1500 per month, but that includes insurance. I make about 150k, and she makes around 35k. We have 50/50, but the income disparity kills me. As close as you all are in income and custody, I would wager that there is no way you are going to be at $1500 monthly.

ETA: 2 kids

LifeLivedOutdoors · 2025-02-26T20:45:47+00:00

That’s probably spot on for 2 kids and your income.

cera6798 · 2025-02-26T20:36:55+00:00

Is daycare or anything else included in that number? Who provides insurance?

I make more than you and my ex make about 80k. The WI calculator puts child support at 1200 for 3 kids before the insurance deduction. Then half of medical and sports , school etc expenses.

RollQuick3579 · 2025-02-26T20:35:22+00:00

I make 70k a year and pay $1098/month plus split extracurriculars and medical.

tyyyy110 · 2025-02-26T20:34:04+00:00

Wow...it does seem high! Ik guys making less, spending less time with their kids, and paying that amount for kids! Don't take that lying down, mate! They always screw us guys over!Keep fighting!

Title	What do you pay for child support?
Author	UnknownUsername113
Upvotes	17
Comments	87
Date	February 26, 2025 8:29 PM UTC (1 year ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/1iyxegq/what_do_you_pay_for_child_support/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/what-do-you-pay-for-child-support.1545054 https://theredarchive.com/post/1545054

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ALSO IN ILLINOIS - Please read my comment