child support issues

[sstarkey2]

undefinedWhat is the name of your state? West Virginia.
I have two children from a previous marriage. Since that divorce which occured in 1997, I have remarried and have another child within this marriage. The ages of the children from my previous marriage are ages 18 and 16. The 18 year old is now graduated from high school but does not plan to persue secondary education within this next year. When the oldest graduated from high school, I contacted the DHHR in my area and spoke with a case worker reguarding the child support for the oldest child. I thought that the support would terminate for the 18 year old and that the monthly amount of support would decrease to support the younger child until he reaches the age of 18 and graduates high school. The case worker reviewed the order and found that it does not state when the support shall terminate for either child. Therefore, the case worker informed me that I must continue to pay the current amount per month until the second child reaches the age of 18 and is graduated from highschool. The case worker also informed me that when that time comes around, I must contact their office and let them know than the support shall now be terminated. I then reviewed my order for child support. It does not give a termination date. Nothing is mentioned about paying for secondary education. It does not state that I shall pay x amount of dollars for the first child and x amount for the second child. It just states that I shall pay x amount of dollars per month. I do not know if I was informed correctly by the case worker from the DHHR or if infact the support should terminate for the oldest child. Please give me some advice.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by sstarkey2

undefinedWhat is the name of your state? West Virginia.
I have two children from a previous marriage. Since that divorce which occured in 1997, I have remarried and have another child within this marriage. The ages of the children from my previous marriage are ages 18 and 16. The 18 year old is now graduated from high school but does not plan to persue secondary education within this next year. When the oldest graduated from high school, I contacted the DHHR in my area and spoke with a case worker reguarding the child support for the oldest child. I thought that the support would terminate for the 18 year old and that the monthly amount of support would decrease to support the younger child until he reaches the age of 18 and graduates high school. The case worker reviewed the order and found that it does not state when the support shall terminate for either child. Therefore, the case worker informed me that I must continue to pay the current amount per month until the second child reaches the age of 18 and is graduated from highschool. The case worker also informed me that when that time comes around, I must contact their office and let them know than the support shall now be terminated. I then reviewed my order for child support. It does not give a termination date. Nothing is mentioned about paying for secondary education. It does not state that I shall pay x amount of dollars for the first child and x amount for the second child. It just states that I shall pay x amount of dollars per month. I do not know if I was informed correctly by the case worker from the DHHR or if infact the support should terminate for the oldest child. Please give me some advice.

You probably go correct information. You should also be aware that child support for one child is normally approximately 17% of your gross income, and two children is 23-24%. Therefore, it wouldn't reduce very much anyway. If your income has increased since the order was made, it might even go up.