Ex-Husband lowered child support

[Anonymous]

Ex-Husband and I just moved to DC. Child support order($433 a month) was for VA based on the income he had there ($65K). When he moved his pay increased to $95K. Mine is $77K. When we lived in VA our daughter stayed with her father 3 days out of each week. When we moved to DC she was with me most of the time because her father was working a second job. Her father increased the child support to $700. Our daughter goes to private school which cost about $800 a month. My ex quit his second job and now has our daughter about 3 days a week again. He lowered the child support ($500 a month) stating that because he has her half the time he shouldn't pay all that $.

My question is should I go to court to have this new amount documented so he can not just lower when he wants to or just leave it alone. Is this a fair amount of money that he lowered it to based on our income and how much time he has with her? We both don't have other children. Our child is 4.

[Anonymous]

Child support calculations are very formula driven. Sounds like you know his salary which is number one. That plus your own income; adjusted for the actual physical custody share; and sometimes credits when one party pays for child care (usually day care so maybe not applicable), health insurance, etc. Each state usually has a standard form that you should be able to drop numbers into to figure out what you should be due-- maybe save you on the legal costs if it wouldn't change much from what you're getting.

[Anonymous]

What is he currently court ordered to pay?

Is personally let it be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is he currently court ordered to pay?

Is personally let it be.

Ordered to pay $433 a month based on $65K..He now makes $95K and everything here is more expensive than in the part of VA we lived in

[Anonymous]

Just do the math-- it's not that hard to figure out the statutory amount.

[Anonymous]

In all seriousness, it seems that you have a healthly shared relationship.

He had increased the support amount (Not court ordered) when you had your daughter more.

Did he lower his support to $500 or decrease it by $500? If he is court ordered to pay $433 and is voluntarily paying more - let it be.

[Anonymous]

If I'm reading the calculation correctly. He should basically be paying $753 with us having shared custody. He just lowered the support to $500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I'm reading the calculation correctly. He should basically be paying $753 with us having shared custody. He just lowered the support to $500.

I would share that with him, as well as a link to the calculator. I think you can file to adjust without a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

OP,
Did you use the DC calculator, which also factors in overnights and what you are both paying for her health insurance? Who's paying for school?

His reasoning about paying less because she's only with him half the time suggests he doesn't understand the calculator. I agree with the PP, send it to him. So long as you are sure that you are not missing something and could wind up with less!

[Anonymous]

The DC formula is much higher than Virginia's. My friend just went through this with her ex. $1900 ordered support in DC lowers to about $800 in Virginia if neither salary changes. Just crossing the river lowers the support.

What does your divorce decree say? I'm guessing there is some clause about what happens should either party move to a different state.

If you need a good lawyer that is flexible with working parents and knows DC family law, call Carolyn Goodman.

[Anonymous]

Costs are higher for him too. He has your daughter 3 days and week and is still paying $500. He paid you more when he could (working 2nd job) but that prevented him from seeing his child.

He seems like a good guy. He is sharing almost 50% custody and paying you $6000/yr. He also has to pay increased cost of living so it isn't like he is rolling in cash.

Is he paying any other incidentals? activities? clothes? Any support above and beyond child support.

Trying to get every penny you can out of him could really mess with the good thing you have going and with his relationship with his daughter.

[Anonymous]

Who initiated the move to DC..who followed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ex-Husband and I just moved to DC. Child support order($433 a month) was for VA based on the income he had there ($65K). When he moved his pay increased to $95K. Mine is $77K. When we lived in VA our daughter stayed with her father 3 days out of each week. When we moved to DC she was with me most of the time because her father was working a second job. Her father increased the child support to $700. Our daughter goes to private school which cost about $800 a month. My ex quit his second job and now has our daughter about 3 days a week again. He lowered the child support ($500 a month) stating that because he has her half the time he shouldn't pay all that $.

My question is should I go to court to have this new amount documented so he can not just lower when he wants to or just leave it alone. Is this a fair amount of money that he lowered it to based on our income and how much time he has with her? We both don't have other children. Our child is 4.

.


Grrrrr. He is spending more time with her and paying a little less. Does it seem logical to you to pick a fight int his situation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I'm reading the calculation correctly. He should basically be paying $753 with us having shared custody. He just lowered the support to $500.

He didn't technically lower anything since the support decree was never changed.

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I would file new paperwork with the Child Support Office where you live with the new info about income, etc and go from there. It may take a while but this way, you won't be arguing about it. You don't need a lawyer to do this. Just call them and tell them your situation has changed and you want your case reviewed.