"So, even though we have 50/50 custody, and I make way more than he does,

[eyesroll]

I'm gonna sue him for child support because, well, I'm the mom. He's the dad. Dads pay child support to moms. It's the way it's been done since the dawn of time." -- Overheard at the gas station.


What the hell is wrong with people?

[Bassic]

1. That must be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

Think she could find herself having to pay him?

[eyesroll]

4. In Wisconsin, yes.

The formula for joint custody (defined as more than 25% by each parent) of one child is as follows:

Take 17 percent (it's higher for more than one kid) of each parent's monthly income. Then multiply that by the percentage of the time the other parent has the kids. The difference between those two figures is what's owed.

In this example:

Let's say Mom makes $2000 and Dad makes $1000 -- 17 percent is $340 and $170.
Each parent has 50 percent -- so Mom's figure is $170 and Dad's figure is $85.
Mom owes dad $85.

The formula is gender-blind. There are some circumstances where the one with more custody (say, 70%) will still end up owing the one with less custody support because of a big income disparity.

[Bassic]

8. That seems like a fair formula. nt

[Beware the Beast Man]

2. People really fucking suck.

:grr:

[miss_american_pie]

3. Yeah, good luck with that

:eyes:

[Deja Q]

5. Greed. In a society that actively encourages it over all else.`

A state of decay.

[Magrittes Pipe]

6. I hope she does sue him for support.

Then, not only will she be ordered to pay him support, she may also have to pick up court costs.

If I were the judge in such a manner, I would use every inch of discretion I had. I fucking hate those who try to steal via the legal system.

[eyesroll]

10. That's another thing: In WI, child support is one of the LEAST negotiable

things. It's a cold, emotionless formula. It can be modified somewhat for extenuating circumstances -- yeah, if Dad had a big non-marital portfolio and Mom had nothing, that might be considered. Or, if Dad quit a $100,000-a-year job to work at McDonalds, the court would consider imputed (potential) income.

But "I'm the mom" isn't extenuating circumstances.

[Deep13]

12. Same in Ohio.

Unfortunately there are still judges who try to impose their own gender-biased preconceptions in their own judicial fiefdoms.

[SacredCow]

13. Same in Louisiana...

Child support is based on the tables, period.

Spousal support is another matter. In that they do consider potential. In my divorce, I was ordered to pay temporary support in addition to the child support because she had a low income (much to her distaste, she HAD to go back to work part time when I was laid off and had to take a lower paying position :nopity: ). Fortunately for me, as an accountant, her potential income was very good, so her quest for permanent alimony was met with a resounding, "Are you NUTS????"

[eyesroll]

14. Spousal support is pretty negotiable here, but it's hard to get.

Especially if both of you are able-bodied, able-minded, in the workforce (or capable of working without too much disruption to the children), and the marriage lasted less than 10 years.

[Deep13]

15. Spousal support or alimony is different than child support.

[eyesroll]

16. Yes, I understand that (and Sacred Cow seems to as well).

:shrug:

[Ravenseye]

7. I call it Beaker Syndrome

You can find it everywhere but it has high concentrations in Southern California, Florida, and the Northeast. The easiest way to tell if someone has Beaker Syndrome is by their speech. If when they talk it sounds like this...

"Me. Me me me. ME ME ME ME. Me. Me me me me me me me, me me me. Me me me, me me me me me me."

They probably have Beaker Syndrome.

[jadedconformist]

9. Sounds like...

she wants more than just care for her child; she wants her ex to suffer. If they had an option for either child support from,or torture for, your ex, I think most women would choose torture.

[Deep13]

11. Sue away. Their respective lawyers will appreciate the business.

If custody is truly 50/50, she may find she ends up with the CS obligation. BTW, divorce has not been permitted since the beginning of time.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. Uh huh. I'd love to be in the courtroom for that hearing

:popcorn:

Poor kids. They have a selfish idiot for a mother.

[warrens]

18. The judge might have moved into the 21st century

But sadly, that fucking moron might get away with it.

[gollygee]

19. Wonder why they got divorced.

I would have run as far as I could.