| As soon as the word divorce is breathed, parents are | | | | remain aware that a large gift to a child or providing |
| often engaged in a battle of emotions involving child | | | | them with new clothes etc does not reduce child |
| custody and child support. Often, the anger over the | | | | support payments. Even if you and your spouse have |
| separation is enough to make these battles heated | | | | discussed this ahead of time, you have to be sure you |
| and the fear that any parent would have of losing | | | | send the proper amount of monies according to your |
| custody of their child can make it difficult to come to | | | | schedule to avoid the possibility of future problems or |
| terms. In the back of any non-custodial parents mind is | | | | punitive proceedings. |
| the burning question of just how much child custody | | | | It is also wise to check with the child maintenance |
| they will have to pay. | | | | guidelines as set forth by the Federal government |
| One very helpful tool is a child support payment | | | | when using a child custody payment calculator. Each |
| calculator. When using them, keep in mind that there | | | | state has leeway as to how their laws are carried out, |
| are always clauses at the bottom, which indicate that | | | | but they must follow a formula based on income |
| the amount being quoted is not necessarily what you | | | | ranges and the number of children involved. Your local, |
| will be granted. These child maintenance payment | | | | family law attorney should be very aware of these |
| calculators are informational only and can be a good | | | | rules and regulations. |
| way to get an average of expected child support | | | | Lots of non-custodial parents wonder what happens if |
| payments. | | | | they just can't pay. They see the future on the child |
| Child maintenance is dictated differently in every state. | | | | support payment calculator and wonder how they will |
| Some states may only require you to list your gross | | | | support themselves and their children. |
| income while others may require full disclosure of | | | | The best defense to this is to try to have |
| everything from net assets, investments and | | | | compassionate and level headed discussions with your |
| retirement accounts to potential bonuses or tips. It is | | | | spouse. They should already be aware of how much |
| your responsibility to enter accurate information as | | | | you earn and your debt. Bear in mind that it is never |
| reported on federal income taxes. Some parents have | | | | good for any child to see their mother or father |
| purposely quit their jobs in order to have lower child | | | | suffering to pay their bills and feed themselves. The |
| support payments mandated. Unfortunately this doesn't | | | | best interests of the child are met with child custody |
| work because the courts have the right to factor | | | | payments that benefit all parties involved. |
| payments on potential earnings from your field. | | | | When a mother and father can agree on terms, the |
| Furthermore, any future earnings that amount to | | | | courts are more likely to accept them. However, when |
| substantially more can be used as a means of | | | | mediation and knock down drag out fights ensue, the |
| appealing child support payment should the custodial | | | | local courts are forced to hand down orders set forth |
| parent seek more financing. | | | | in the child support guidelines for your state. In other |
| The most helpful child support calculators are ones | | | | words, if you use a child maintenance payment |
| that enable you to enter the largest amount of figures | | | | calculator and are certain that you will be unable to |
| possible. This way, you can get a firm grasp of the | | | | pay - have level headed, honest and mature |
| numbers that are likely used by courts and attorneys | | | | negotiations with your spouse before proceeding to |
| to settle child maintenance payments. Additionally, | | | | the court system. |