Why does my partner pay $2400 a month child support for one kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The crazy thing is that when he has more kids, each won’t get $2400. I make a similar amount and bring home 3k a paycheck (after maxing out retirement and my health insurance)

I know dh and I don’t spend that on our kids a month. We have the same house and cars we did prekids, so those costs would be the same regardless of kids.

Same with us. It costs us no more in housing or electricity as we'd have the house regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2400/month is literally less than 20% of his income. You sound heartless.

Remember Dad pays taxes on his income, and probably provides the health care and more. Mom gets all that money tax free. $2400 is more than most people spend on their kids. Is more than some people earn in a month. Its a lot of money. We spend a lot on our child and don't even come close to that if you average it out over a year (except maybe if you include college savings).

It is also for housing. Which is why it’s calculated at that rate.

[Anonymous]

MYOB! Be glad he takes care of his child.

[Anonymous]

My nephew pays $800 a month for one kid with no court involvement, he's paid it for 13 years, totally voluntary. If he did go through the courts it would likely be about half that based on his income and Va laws.

He does it because he wants to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew pays $800 a month for one kid with no court involvement, he's paid it for 13 years, totally voluntary. If he did go through the courts it would likely be about half that based on his income and Va laws.

He does it because he wants to.

Ok it costs a ton to raise a kid. $800 isn’t much at all. In the summer camps are $400 a month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If only he were in VA. VA thinks that childcare and raising children in Roanoke and Arlington cost the same.

It’s ridiculous.

No its, not. It goes on time share and income. The custodial parent also has an obligation to financially support the child/ren as well. So, that's not full support, its only Dad's share.

This.

I find that so many people believe that child support is supposed to cover all of a child’s expenses and that’s not true. It’s just a portion. So many times women are disappointed and say they are not getting enough child support when in reality the cost of living and raising a child is higher than then realized and that they will actually need to increase their own income since now they are dependent on a single income.

That wasn't my point. My point was that the state of Virginia treats Arlington and Roanoke the same. If you think that's equitable, fine. VA has the lowest child support rate in the DMV.

Yes, its equitable. Mom can choose to move to a lower cost area if she cannot afford where she is living at. Most things in divorce, custody and child support aren't equitable.

No. Custodial parents can't just choose to up and move with the child. That would make it more difficult for the non custodial parent to have regular visits with the kid.

Roanoke is a nearly 4 hour drive from Arlington. If both mom and dad live in the Arlington area, and dad gets visitation on Tuesday/Thursday nights and every other weekend, his kid moving to Arlington would make the weeknights impossible and the the weekends a lot more difficult.

[Anonymous]

I would be glad he supports his child. If this bothers you even a little, this isn’t your scene.

Stepmom here.

[Anonymous]

TBH I think that's kind of on the lower side...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2400/month is literally less than 20% of his income. You sound heartless.

Remember Dad pays taxes on his income, and probably provides the health care and more. Mom gets all that money tax free. $2400 is more than most people spend on their kids. Is more than some people earn in a month. Its a lot of money. We spend a lot on our child and don't even come close to that if you average it out over a year (except maybe if you include college savings).

-.+100 the file support we paid for one was much more than the amount we paid for two in our house ( including health insurance, share of utilities and food etc, not just direct kid costs). All while the ex lies about where money and activities came from and never went back to work. I could go on with more... 🙄

[Anonymous]

^ child not file

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My nephew pays $800 a month for one kid with no court involvement, he's paid it for 13 years, totally voluntary. If he did go through the courts it would likely be about half that based on his income and Va laws.

He does it because he wants to.

I know a few people who voluntarily agreed to pay more than the likely court ordered amount, usually because they felt guilty whether for a good reason or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If only he were in VA. VA thinks that childcare and raising children in Roanoke and Arlington cost the same.

It’s ridiculous.

No its, not. It goes on time share and income. The custodial parent also has an obligation to financially support the child/ren as well. So, that's not full support, its only Dad's share.

This.

I find that so many people believe that child support is supposed to cover all of a child’s expenses and that’s not true. It’s just a portion. So many times women are disappointed and say they are not getting enough child support when in reality the cost of living and raising a child is higher than then realized and that they will actually need to increase their own income since now they are dependent on a single income.

That wasn't my point. My point was that the state of Virginia treats Arlington and Roanoke the same. If you think that's equitable, fine. VA has the lowest child support rate in the DMV.

Yes, its equitable. Mom can choose to move to a lower cost area if she cannot afford where she is living at. Most things in divorce, custody and child support aren't equitable.

No. Custodial parents can't just choose to up and move with the child. That would make it more difficult for the non custodial parent to have regular visits with the kid.

Roanoke is a nearly 4 hour drive from Arlington. If both mom and dad live in the Arlington area, and dad gets visitation on Tuesday/Thursday nights and every other weekend, his kid moving to Arlington would make the weeknights impossible and the the weekends a lot more difficult.

Yes, they can. Mom simply moves. Who do you think will stop her? If they go move without court approval, courts rarely make that parent move back. Dad just loses his visitation. Happens pretty often. That was our experience and when Mom refused visits despite many court hearings she was never held accountable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this normal in DC??

For 40 hours week this is a bit over $13/hr! This is dirt cheap.

[Anonymous]

All of you piling on OP, back off. I would worry that if the guy loses his job and they're married, would OP be obliged by the court to cover CS for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nephew pays $800 a month for one kid with no court involvement, he's paid it for 13 years, totally voluntary. If he did go through the courts it would likely be about half that based on his income and Va laws.

He does it because he wants to.

Ok it costs a ton to raise a kid. $800 isn’t much at all. In the summer camps are $400 a month

Camps are 400 a week in the DC area.