Texas- My ex husband, recently quit a very good paying job because he was having to work out of town and only getting to see our son 1 or 2 weekends a month. I currently have an open door visitation arrangement with him so he sees him every weekend. He took a job paying 50/hour working 40 hours a week (per former co employee). FYI-he is not seeing his son anymore than he used to. He leaves our son with his Mom and goes out and parties and has fun on weekends (per his Facebook page posts, which I have printed out).
He has a lawyer and is trying to lower his child support by $1000 month to just $500 month. We went to a settlement conference with him and his lawyer (my husband and I can't afford one) and when the lawyer said $500 a month, I told her "child support is based on earning potential and since he quit his job voluntarily, nothing should change". She, the lawyer, jumped up and said "meeting over, we will be serving you papers". I went in this meeting ready to offer $100 less a week and my husband and I would pay medical insurance. I thought that was fair.
Am I wrong in my understanding of the law? He says he has operating expences (but he claims one truck payment in the amount of $1100 that isn't even a work truck, he is a welder and has another truck for welding). I don't want to be unfair to him, but I don't think you should pay more for one of your 2 trucks than you do for your own child. I have tried to negotiate with him outside of court, but he seems to want to go to court. I can't pay $3000 for a lawyer! I'm scared if I don't get one, I'll lose $500+ a month. What can I do?
He has a lawyer and is trying to lower his child support by $1000 month to just $500 month. We went to a settlement conference with him and his lawyer (my husband and I can't afford one) and when the lawyer said $500 a month, I told her "child support is based on earning potential and since he quit his job voluntarily, nothing should change". She, the lawyer, jumped up and said "meeting over, we will be serving you papers". I went in this meeting ready to offer $100 less a week and my husband and I would pay medical insurance. I thought that was fair.
Am I wrong in my understanding of the law? He says he has operating expences (but he claims one truck payment in the amount of $1100 that isn't even a work truck, he is a welder and has another truck for welding). I don't want to be unfair to him, but I don't think you should pay more for one of your 2 trucks than you do for your own child. I have tried to negotiate with him outside of court, but he seems to want to go to court. I can't pay $3000 for a lawyer! I'm scared if I don't get one, I'll lose $500+ a month. What can I do?