This subject is very upsetting to me
and I will try not to leave anything out. My husband has a daughter from a
previous marriage, she is 13. My husband and I have two children, son 6
and daughter 3. When my son was born,
we were paying $60.00 a week for child support. Before my son was born, my
husband paid more, I believe he paid $80.00 a week, it was when my son was born,
our lawyer negotiated with his ex to reduce it to $60.00 because that
is what it was believed it would have been at the time. Approximately 2
years ago, maybe a little less, his ex-wife decided to file to get more support.
At this time, my daughter was already born. At the time of the
hearing, he had 2 children with me. At the time of the hearing, his
ex-wife was not married. (a couple months later, she remarried, was this
coincidence - I don't think so, I think this was intentional).
First, his lawyer was not available for
the date of hearing, so we had it continued. Well, at the time of the
hearing, his attorney never showed up. "Office error" - they had
the wrong date. I don't think it would have mattered either way.
He was hit with $106.00 per week, with
arrearages for $1,500.00 (since the time of the petition for hearing) - this
making support payments in the amount $126.00 per week. My husband
was never in arrears, he always paid his support. Also, he has to pay 55%
of medical bills and the ex pays 45% - and he has to provide coverage for her.
I can't quote the exact income of my husband, but I believe it is $25,000
give or take. My income is $14,000 year. And, to top it off, he
can't even claim her - ex has the exclusive right, unless she would agree, but
there is no way she would agree - she is very uncooperative, there is no
communication, she wants everything her way or no way.
My husband and I live "paycheck to
paycheck" - there is no savings, buying the good clothes, nice house or
having a pool. His ex wife lives like a queen and we are struggling.
We make too much to get help from the state - but can't make ends meet all
the time.
Why should one child live like a queen
and the other two have a "low income" setting? How is this going
to effect the other two children as they get older?
The ex-wife has a nice house, a large
yard, a big swimming pool, drives new cars, getting a new one every 2 years or
so. They buy only NEW clothing.
We live in a very old house, with lots
of expenses!! Everything is always breaking down. My car is on its
last leg. My husband's truck is on its last leg. He has one truck
that he treasures, because he bought it brand new in 1980 something.
I shop at used clothing stores for myself and my husband. It
is not often that I buy new clothes, if I do, it is for work. His ex-wife
probably doesn't even know what a used clothing store is. Thank God, I get
a lot of hand-me-downs from family and friends for my kids, otherwise, I don't
know what I would do.
I would be doing really good too, if my
husband was paying the mortgage for me
and I was getting $100 a week for my children. (This is how I feel his ex
wife is doing so well, she has her husband's income, her income which is almost
as much as my husband's and my husband's $556.00 a month). I believe his
arrears are almost paid up, so we will be getting a little back a week.
I don't think the guidelines are fair
at all. I think every case should belooked at in detail and fairness.
If I had no children, I wouldn't care about paying $106.00 a week, but I
have two children. Who is looking out for my kids? NO ONE. The
lawyers tell me that my children are taken into consideration, how, I just don't
understand?
Who makes up the guidelines? The
Rich??
I just don't get it and I just don't see the fairness.
Thank you for time in reading my story.
Totally frustrated.
