In Georgia, the amt was based solely on my hubby’s income and was paid directly to his ex (with no record kept, except by us). She actually made significantly more money than he did, but that didn’t matter…it was still 37% of his income. Because his ex was not vindictive, she never cried wolf and said he didn’t pay, but I know others to whom this has happened.

In Kansas, where I was divorced, the amt was calculated based on both parents’ income and cost of living, and all the payments are handled directly through the state. They take a small percentage, but they also do the chasing of those who don’t pay. Because I have long quit working to raise my special needs child, I have been told by the state I could get significantly more support for my other daughter. It just hasn’t seemed to be worth hiring the lawyer and battling it all out.

My point…Kansas is the fairer system…and I like that the money is administered through the state because that way the state knows it’s going to the kid (or at least to the custodial parent to spend how she/he wishes). But that’s another whole blog isn’t it????

I have seen child support laws, nearly ruin my brother’s life. His son’s grandfather is wealthy, and supplied the mom with a very good attorney. My brother went in blind, without ANY attorney at all. My brother is ordered to pay almost $800 a month and he does so on time, each month. My nephew’s mom claimed to be a student, and and that she needed full time childcare. If that’s what she were really doing, that would be one thing, but it isn’t. She does not go to school, nor does she work. My nephew is 6, and just finished kindergarten. When I asked him why he went to daycare, he said, “because my mom needs a break”. He is well-behaved, and was already at school for half the day. How much of a break does a parent need? My brother is in another relationship now, with a girl who has no children. I have seen the child support nearly split them up. It’s hard, when your partner can’t pull their own weight because of exhorbant child support payments. He has also gone into considerable debt. Don’t get me wrong, I think that he does need to pay support for his son. However, the amount was the result of the mom having a big shot attorney, and her not telling the truth. Unfortunately, the courts don’t bother to check up on people. I have seen it the other way too. I have known moms who get very little to no support, because their child’s dad works under the table.