Can a lawyer help me reduce my child support obligation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If there are guidelines, not likely there is much you can do. But seriously, $20k support per year for your kids isn’t a lot. A judge isn’t going to have sympathy. Your first duty is to support your kids. Do you need a car? Can you get cheaper rent?

It’s a lot when he has the same expenses in his home for the kids too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Father of the Year here. Jeez dude, take care of your children.

He is. He fully pays their expenses in his home as well as the moms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are guidelines, not likely there is much you can do. But seriously, $20k support per year for your kids isn’t a lot. A judge isn’t going to have sympathy. Your first duty is to support your kids. Do you need a car? Can you get cheaper rent?

It’s a lot when he has the same expenses in his home for the kids too.

Yep this is what a lot of people either forget or simply ignore. Child support decreases the income of 1 person while raising the income of the other. And it's always the same excuse kids are expensive. No sh**t. OP has his kids 40% of the time and yet he covers their expenses in both households. This is one of the reason some men are so stressed financially that it affects their relationship with their kids. Men's mental health in this country nobody gives a sh**t. We only care about women's mental health. For men it's always the same toughen up.

And in NY you pay child support until they are 21. And guess what? Even when they are in college you still need to keep paying child support and it's separate from college tuition. So you still need to keep sending those checks even though the child is away in college.

NY is one of the worst state if you have child support payment and you are not wealthy.

[Anonymous]

New York is different than this area. You need to ask an attorney there.

[Anonymous]

Dude, no. I got $1400 in Virginia for 1 kid. Ain't no way you're getting out of that. You need to take more custody.

[Anonymous]

I think you’re a troll, but I want you to look at this from a public good perspective.

Why is a judge going to think it’s in the best interest of your kids for you to have more money for your credit card bill? Spend less money and that bill will go down automatically. Car payment— get a cheaper or used car. Rent— everyone in your story is paying NY rent and yeah it sucks.

If there is a public good reason, something like you are caring for a profoundly disabled adult sibling, you have medical debt, etc. than by all means go to a judge. But if it’s because you think you should have more money and your kids should have less…consider why that should matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are guidelines, not likely there is much you can do. But seriously, $20k support per year for your kids isn’t a lot. A judge isn’t going to have sympathy. Your first duty is to support your kids. Do you need a car? Can you get cheaper rent?

It’s a lot when he has the same expenses in his home for the kids too.

Except he hasn’t clarified whether that $1700 includes his share of childcare and insurance. In which case he wouldn’t have those expenses at his home.

[Anonymous]

Your best bet is to change your work schedule and ask for 50% custody and no child support. You are almost there, so this seems like it should be doable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your best bet is to change your work schedule and ask for 50% custody and no child support. You are almost there, so this seems like it should be doable.

He hasn’t said he takes them 40%. Childcare and insurance won’t change. The kids deserve to be with the parent who wants them.

[Anonymous]

You agreed to it all. Didn't you do the math?
No savings or investments after divorce?
Get a second job asap. Restaurants are hiring.

[Anonymous]

OP can you clarify?

If you have to pay out $1,700/month then how are you $700 short??

I may have misunderstood….

What are your expenses?
Things vary so much by state but I strongly doubt that judges look into personal expenses of each case.

[Anonymous]

I think you are stuck with this until they turn 18. You should have used a lawyer not a mediator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You agreed to it all. Didn't you do the math?
No savings or investments after divorce?
Get a second job asap. Restaurants are hiring.

Why are you guys sending everyone to restaurants lol? Its the same damn advice Everytime.

[Anonymous]

You have the kids 3 days a week. She has them 4 days. But you have to pay $1700 in child support?
You are already covering expenses for 3 days. She doesn’t need $1700 to cover the kids expenses for that one extra day a week.
This is robbery. Get a lawyer.

You should fight for equal custody 3.5 days a week. She will even have to pay you child support since she earns more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there are guidelines, not likely there is much you can do. But seriously, $20k support per year for your kids isn’t a lot. A judge isn’t going to have sympathy. Your first duty is to support your kids. Do you need a car? Can you get cheaper rent?

It’s a lot when he has the same expenses in his home for the kids too.

Yep this is what a lot of people either forget or simply ignore. Child support decreases the income of 1 person while raising the income of the other. And it's always the same excuse kids are expensive. No sh**t. OP has his kids 40% of the time and yet he covers their expenses in both households. This is one of the reason some men are so stressed financially that it affects their relationship with their kids. Men's mental health in this country nobody gives a sh**t. We only care about women's mental health. For men it's always the same toughen up.

And in NY you pay child support until they are 21. And guess what? Even when they are in college you still need to keep paying child support and it's separate from college tuition. So you still need to keep sending those checks even though the child is away in college.

NY is one of the worst state if you have child support payment and you are not wealthy.

Please spare me your crying. Women have been bearing the brunt of raising children while men skip out for literally ALL OF RECORDED HISTORY. I am not going to cry about some newly single dude making $108k who doesn't want to get rid of his $800 car payment and drive a shitty Honda Civic instead. I guarantee that's what one of his other "expenses" is, a WAY too expensive car.