I have been dealt one hell of a blow from child support enforcement and my ex husband. They have decided that he is only responsible for 10 % of the care for my 2 boys. He has just had his support lowered to only $25 per month per child. That's only $50 a month. He refuses to go out and get a real full time job. His new wife makes all their money so he has no need to work. What is fair anymore? The child support enforcement agency has just given him the right to become a dead beat dad!!! Isn't there anything that can be done to make him be responsible for his kids? Or is that considered responible enough?

Oh man, I thought I had it rough getting only 59 a week on my daughter. I'm sorry to hear that this is happening to you. Usually they use a child support worksheet to figure this all out. I guess even then the system can stink sometimes.

Oh, I'm sorry. Life stinks sometimes. Someone here has a signature that says "When Life deals you lemons, throw them at someone".

I have been able to turn my feelings of frustration and anger into motivation to work harder. It's all we can really do.

Good luck.

Just knowing that there are other people out there that are going through all this too means the world to me. I finally feel like I am not alone in this big bad world called divorce.
Child support did use the worksheet but they only base it on my income versus his. They do not count his wifes at all. So he can continue to work as little as possible and she is the one who makes all the money. I am appealing this decision, which is all I can do. Keep your fingers crossed that justice will not be blind!!!!!

why are they basing it on your income? It is suppose to be a certain percent of his income. I was the main source of income when I was married. When I filed for divorce my husband was a bartender. He said he only made "X" amount per month based on tips of 10%. I had proof of what he did make in tips, so that did help me out a little. But he still doesn't pay what he is suppose to. But 50.00 a month?????? That gets your kids basically nothing. I doubt that they will take in to consideration his wifes salary. Does he pay their health insurance? That may be something else he is suppose to be responsible for.

The worksheet they used for us based it on my income vs. his as well. They don't just say..ok you pay 15% of your income towards your kids (haha if only that would do). On our original worksheet, I was responsible for 49% of Sierra's well being and he was responsible for 51%. Then, they gave him a 6% discount for seeing her. So basically, I had to make up the difference because he saw her...but I still had to provide all the clothing, etc while she was with him.

Serious problems with the system. Serious.

Agreed, the system is flawed. There is no such thing as fair across the board. And to be honest, that's on both sides of the fence that it is flawed. So much depends on location, judge for the case, etc. and even with guidlines in place there is still too much variance in how those guidelines are applied or ignored, and whether or not child support is even enforced.

Such as in missbrat's instance. They should base his support on his ability to work and earn, instead of apparently what little he is showing them.

They also base it on his income vs. mine where I live. I don't know what he does for a living b/c the attorneys can't tell me, but I do know he makes pretty good money. My gross is $1,720 a month and yet my son's father is responsible to pay $354 a month for him. We have court on June 15th to establish paternity b/c we were never married and he disputes paternity of my son. So once he finds out he is the father then he will have to pay that unless he signs over his parental rights which is what I am trying to get him to do, but he still has to pay the back he owes me of $286 a month for 3 years totaling over 10 thousand dollars so at least he is supposed to pay child support for 3 years anyway. Which will be a big help, but I just want him out of his life legally so he can never come around.

Well Child Support hsa agreed that I have enough of an argument that they have granted me an appeal. I am charging him with willfull under employment. He can gain and maintain full time employment but he refuses to do so. He was ordered to pay dor their medical insurance 5 years ago, but he won't accept a job that offers it. He plays in a rock band on the weekends and I know he gets paid cash for that. Not to mention the private guitar lessons he gives for cash. I am bringing all of that up at my appeals hearing. Keep your fingers crossed June 28th. If this doesn't work, then I have to have my divorce decree amended. It gives him the right to claim 1 of our kids each year on taxes. If he isn't gonna have to pay any more than $50 a month, why should he get the tax credit? Oh, this whole thing is giving me a headache. Thanks for all your words of support and you experiences...it really does help!!!! Keep em coming!!!