Isn't child support supposed to equalize both households?

[Anonymous]

Isn't child support supposed to equalize both households?

I cannot afford a nicer apartment than the one I am in now due to child support payments.

I thought the idea was to make sure that the kids have similar accomodations in both households. How do people achieve that when they have to pay child support?

[Anonymous]

No, it's supposed to provide a reasonable upbringing for the child. That doesn't mean equality.

[Anonymous]

Child support is mainly to support the children and their accomodations when they are with the primary parent.

It is expected that the payer will make sacrifices in their standard of living for their kids

Even though my parents had 50/50, my mother was the primary parent because she was a teacher and her work schedule worked well for our activities etc. My dad paid child support. He had a 2 bedroom apartment and he slept in the living room and gave us the bedrooms. My mom was able to buy a house and the child support helped support the mortgage.

Unless you have a high income, if you pay child support you will not be able to afford the same lifestyle as your ex because you simply have less money.

[Anonymous]

No, that's not what child support is for.

Can you describe your situation? If you're paying child support and you have 50/50 then you must have the higher income. I'm not sure why that would mean you can't afford an apartment similar to their other parent's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't child support supposed to equalize both households?

I cannot afford a nicer apartment than the one I am in now due to child support payments.

I thought the idea was to make sure that the kids have similar accomodations in both households. How do people achieve that when they have to pay child support?

What made you think that?

[Anonymous]

Have you seriously not just looked up how child support payments are determined in your state?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it's supposed to provide a reasonable upbringing for the child. That doesn't mean equality.

This. Often men think that they must have the same living standards as their ex. No, it's all about the kids. The kids must have everything they need in the school district they stay in.

This is one of the reasons why divorce hurt men more than they hurt women. Most men experience financial hardship as a result of divorce. This hardship affects their dating experience etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, that's not what child support is for.

Can you describe your situation? If you're paying child support and you have 50/50 then you must have the higher income. I'm not sure why that would mean you can't afford an apartment similar to their other parent's.

Not OP. A few months ago someone said that apparently in NY even with 50/50 someone has to be designated primary. And that primary parent then get child support even under a 50/50 custody.

I don't know if the guy was BS'ing cause that's wild of true. I'll Google it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it's supposed to provide a reasonable upbringing for the child. That doesn't mean equality.

+1
My best friend is divorced from a very wealthy man. Everything was amicable and she got a fair settlement but her financial situation is in no way equal to her ex’s. She has gone back to work. Their children are well-provided for and her ex pays for all the expensive activities and trips but she has to manage her own expenses.

[Anonymous]

If you are looking for equal households you have to stay equally unhappy and married in the same house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking for equal households you have to stay equally unhappy and married in the same house.

*nods grimly*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it's supposed to provide a reasonable upbringing for the child. That doesn't mean equality.

This. Often men think that they must have the same living standards as their ex. No, it's all about the kids. The kids must have everything they need in the school district they stay in.

This is one of the reasons why divorce hurt men more than they hurt women. Most men experience financial hardship as a result of divorce. This hardship affects their dating experience etc.

Women experience a steeper decline in household income after divorce than men do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Child support is mainly to support the children and their accomodations when they are with the primary parent.

It is expected that the payer will make sacrifices in their standard of living for their kids

Even though my parents had 50/50, my mother was the primary parent because she was a teacher and her work schedule worked well for our activities etc. My dad paid child support. He had a 2 bedroom apartment and he slept in the living room and gave us the bedrooms. My mom was able to buy a house and the child support helped support the mortgage.

Unless you have a high income, if you pay child support you will not be able to afford the same lifestyle as your ex because you simply have less money.

+ 1

This is a good explanation/breakdown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, that's not what child support is for.

Can you describe your situation? If you're paying child support and you have 50/50 then you must have the higher income. I'm not sure why that would mean you can't afford an apartment similar to their other parent's.

Not OP. A few months ago someone said that apparently in NY even with 50/50 someone has to be designated primary. And that primary parent then get child support even under a 50/50 custody.

I don't know if the guy was BS'ing cause that's wild of true. I'll Google it...

It's the same in Texas, 50/50 is considered unusual and you still have to pay child support. I didn't want to put the kids through a big custody battle so took the Texas standard custody agreement which is Thursday evenings and overnight every other weekend. I pay the same child support either way but now have free time to get myself in order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't child support supposed to equalize both households?

LMAO! NO. It's designed to give "the system" more money and make it more in tax revenue by helping divide households and keep people poor.

Wake up and see the scams all around you.