Fighting Over Child Support After the Pink Slip Arrives

[babylonsister]

Fighting Over Child Support After the Pink Slip Arrives

By JULIE BOSMAN
Published: March 28, 2009


The same story echoed a dozen times through Room E8 of Manhattan Family Court in a single day: fathers, pinched by the recession, pleading for a reduction in child support.

A salesman at Saks Fifth Avenue who is estranged from his teenage daughter said he feared he would be included in the next round of layoffs expected at his store.

A man who had been laid off from a factory said he managed to find work at Mets games, but for less pay, $9 an hour. Another man, on the verge of eviction, begged for a break from his $315 monthly payments.

“Last week was my child’s birthday, and I couldn’t get him a present,” he said, burying his head in his hands. “This is killing me.”

Since January, Family Court in New York has been filled with urgent requests like these, alarming judges and overwhelming calendars with what are known as modification cases.

Similar patterns are unfolding across the country: In Clark County, Nev., which includes Las Vegas, the district attorney’s family support division has received an unusually high number of calls from parents who previously paid diligently but are now having trouble.

The child-support office in Milwaukee saw a 20 percent spike in the number of custodial parents seeking enforcement of support orders last year, with most of the increase coming in the fall as the unemployment rate there began to creep upward.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/nyregion/29support.html?hp

[SheilaT]

1. This has hit me.

My ex got a reduction by two-thirds of his spousal support after he lost his jobs, despite significant assets. From all reports he is making no effort to find work because he decided instead to attend school full time to get a master's degree in history. Apparently he fantasized getting a college professorship.

I realize what's stated above look like genuine hardship cases, and I'm certainly not begrudging them a little relief.

[bluestateguy]

2. And that, my friends, is why I don't plan on having kids

Unless my wife and I make a shitload of money.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. I've seen this too in my extended family.

The right answer is to reduce child support until the person is making more money and can afford more. Yes there are some deadbeats, but the rise seems to be mostly responsible parent caught it circumstances beyond their control.

I also did not realize the NY had child support after 18. Anyone know how long that can continue?

[LiberalFighter]

5. Depends on what the judge determines probably.

They could probably require child support until the child graduates from college.

Indiana could require child support until 21 because they are not automatically emancipated until that age.

[SheilaT]

14. In Kansas, mandated child support stops

at age 18. There is no requirement to support a kid in college, or to pay for college.

[Hello_Kitty]

6. Depends on the settlement and usually the kid has to be in college.

Probably until age 23 or so.

[LiberalFighter]

4. A major overhaul is needed in determining child support. And the attitude of judges.

It is suppose to be based on the lifestyle of the family if it had not gone thru a divorce. All parties should share in the financial advantages or disadvantages. That should also include when a family member goes thru a layoff, fired or other situation. Just as they would if they were still living together as a family. In addition, expenses should be based on the actual family size and not the number of children eligible for child support.

[Mugweed]

7. Why are people having children?

Especially when they obviously aren't even committed to their marriage. I came down to 3 reasons for children:
1. ego (needing someone to carry on the family name, bloodline, DNA, whatever)
2. selfishness (wanting someone to rely on you, to take care of you when your old, to mow the lawn, to take over the family business)
3. accident

I've asked many many people and their answers could always be put into on of the 3 categories.

Make sure you're committed to being married first, then ask why you want children.

[Debi]

8. What if you're commited to being married and your spouse isn't

after you have the children?

[babylonsister]

9. We're talking about a majority of people who were committed

to a marriage that eventually didn't work. Why not have children if you think you have a good family unit and have maternal or paternal feelings you want to share?

My parents may have had egos but they yearned for kids for different reasons other than that. One was orphaned and the other one was an only child. They both seriously wanted kids. When we were in our teens, they probably occasionally wished they could give us back.

[pnwmom]

10. You left out a major reason.

Instinct.

I know many women who, in their twenties or thirties, were shocked when it hit them like a ton of bricks. All of a sudden every baby in the mall looks absolutely adorable. This can even happen to women who thought they wouldn't want children, or never thought about children. Or to women who'd always thought their career would come before everything. Or even to women who aren't married; or are married -- but to the wrong person.

Humor me. Are you a guy? Because your list looks like a "guy list." How many women have you included in your survey?

:)

P.S. I'm guessing that this baby-craving happens to the occasional man, too.

[Gwendolyn]

11. Terrible situation all around.

Men are getting their payments reduced, in most cases probably rightly so as you can't pick money from trees, but it certainly doesn't help all those women struggling to raise kids alone with nothing but that one cheque a month from the spouse who is gone. I'm guessing more and more people will put off their divorces and live together while leading separate lives.

[Urban Prairie]

12. My wife can barely take care of her three cats..

All she does is put food and water in their bowls. and pets them. I have to clean their litter boxes and vacuum their hair and litter trackings on the kitchen floor and living room. I won't bother to mention her virtually non-existent housekeeping habits. And we were gonna have kids on top of that?

LOL..no way in hell would I get her preggers, that is one BIG mistake that I didn't make, thank GOD! We have been married almost ten years, and I really doubt we will make it another ten. At this point we are only still married because it would be difficult for me to leave her and risk her (and maybe me)becoming homeless. We are one very small step away from that as it is now. Hellofva reason to stay married,just because of fucking money, but I truly doubt that we are the only ones. Child support won't be an issue for me, it is her crappy PT minimum wage income, and my puny monthly disability checks can't support both of us separately. I am disabled, but still have to often endure agonizing pain to keep our living spaces...somewhat livable.

[sarcasmo]

13. Smart Man to realize the situation. I am glad my kid is 19 and my child support done and over.

I wouldn't want child support hanging over my head in this economy, you can shit money.