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