Child Support

[USCGamecocks]

I live in a different state than my five month old child. I pay child support that is not court ordered to my baby's mother. How much should I pay per month? Is there a percentage? I pay $700 per month on a base salary of $32,000. I feel I'm paying too much, your thoughts?

[Xin Lu]

That seems like a lot, but is that what you are ordered to pay? I'm too familiar with how child support works.

[Julie Rains]

I know someone who gave me the numbers he was paying (around $900) on a salary of $40K or so. It sounds like a lot but if mom is working, then childcare may take up a lot of that money (or all of it) plus there's food, healthcare insurance, doctor's appointments (babies have loads of them), and clothes.

[USCGamecocks]

Not ordered to pay anything. Just want to do what's right without a judge telling me how much I should be paying for my kid.

[kav122]

First I want to say "good job" on doing the right thing. It is a shame that more people don't do the right thing without being forced to.

I don't have a lot of experience either in this arena, but from conversations I have had with you before, I would say that you seem like a perfectly reasonable guy. If you are having a hard time with 700 (which is like 26-27% of your income, right?) then I would have a conversation with the mother. Or maybe have a mediator (someone that is well versed in these issues) and come to the table together to find a solution that you both agree on. I would also think that much of this has to do with how much money the mother makes, what her situation (daycare, housing, etc) is like, whether you cover the child on your health/dental plans, etc, etc, etc.

Even though you want to do the right thing without being ordered, I think that it would at least ease both of your minds that the agreement is "fair" if you came to a mediator with all of the facts of the situation.

Hope you get some peace of mind!

[USCGamecocks]

Thanks, came to the forum to vent but I think mediation would be the best route.

[purplefdu]

That does sound reasonable, depending on whether the mother makes more or less than you. Its not always fun to get a judge involved, but having someone with weight give a set amount who can review that amount when things change is comforting for both parties (unless one is trying to get out of their responsibilities).

I hope you are documenting and getting receipts for each payment in case you should ever need to go to court you can prove you've paid up to that point.

Thought I'd check if there were online numbers and you're in luck.
SC State Child Support Calculator:
http://www.state.sc.us/dss/csed/calculator.htm
Link to more Info:
http://www.state.sc.us/dss/csed/forms.htm#glines

Based on the chart in one of the info packs, your $700 is equal to a gross income of over $4,000 a month. Hope that helps.

[MSMomsmoney]

I agree with the others.

Go to the state's child support website that your child lives in. They should have a calculator that will figure out what you should be paying per month.

I currently receive child support.

What I can tell you, is different states have different methods of calculating the amount.

Some take into account both parties incomes, some only take into account the non custodial parents income, some allot for child care expenses, some do not, most have some provision for OOP health care expenses, as well as health insurance for the child.

Please do make sure the checks you send, in the comment section say child support, and keep a copy of the returned cashed check.

I would set it up so you can get an order through CSE---it will wind up there eventually--better to do it, sooner rather than later, IMVHO.

[SouthShoreGirl]

I would consult with a mediator/attorney. If your child is in care though during the day, I'd imagine that $700.00 gets eaten up pretty quickly. Here "cheap" child care is $250.00 per week. And for some that is "Part-time".

[cashing_in]

I can't say much on this topic but would surely say that you are doing a good job. A family consultant would be the best person to help you probably.