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Child Support Increase Question

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StampGirl

Senior Member
What is the name of your state? CA

Currently I have a child support order stating that my ex husband pays $1600 a month for our three children. It was based on him making $60,000 a yr, having 40% custody and him claiming all three children on his income tax return. I was in school at the time and not working. I also was forced to pay for all daycare for our infant daughter on my own.

This was 5 yrs ago. About 3yrs ago we were in court fighting for the right for me to claim all the children on my tax return and his w-2 stated he was making $98,000 for the year 2004. The judge gave him the dependants based on the fact I was not working but in school at the time. It is subject and open for modification however.

Right now, he made pretty close to $120,000 for the year 2006. I am currently making $30,000 a year (gross) and not allowed to claim the children who live with me on my tax return. The reality of the custody percentage is me 85% and he has 15% (first, third, and fifth weekend fri-sun). We don't have summer vacation as the children are on a year-round schedule and are off the months of March, June and Oct. He does NOT take them any extra time as he says he doesn't have anyone to watch them. He is given in the papework 2 weeks of each month they are out of school.

My question is: I no longer can support myself and my children on my income and the support he is paying. Rent in Southern California for a 2-bd (which by the way, we do not fit into) was raised to $1600 a month and I was forced to move back in with my parents.

Do I have reason/just cause to request a modification of support and to re-claim my dependants? Is there anything I can do about the fact he was ordered to pay below guideline support for the last 5yrs? I will also mention that I paid for all daycare costs while I was in school and that he refuses to pay his share.

Thanks for any advice.What is the name of your state?
 


jbowman

Senior Member
What is the name of your state? CA

Currently I have a child support order stating that my ex husband pays $1600 a month for our three children. It was based on him making $60,000 a yr, having 40% custody and him claiming all three children on his income tax return. I was in school at the time and not working. I also was forced to pay for all daycare for our infant daughter on my own.

This was 5 yrs ago. About 3yrs ago we were in court fighting for the right for me to claim all the children on my tax return and his w-2 stated he was making $98,000 for the year 2004. The judge gave him the dependants based on the fact I was not working but in school at the time. It is subject and open for modification however.

Right now, he made pretty close to $120,000 for the year 2006. I am currently making $30,000 a year (gross) and not allowed to claim the children who live with me on my tax return. The reality of the custody percentage is me 85% and he has 15% (first, third, and fifth weekend fri-sun). We don't have summer vacation as the children are on a year-round schedule and are off the months of March, June and Oct. He does NOT take them any extra time as he says he doesn't have anyone to watch them. He is given in the papework 2 weeks of each month they are out of school.

My question is: I no longer can support myself and my children on my income and the support he is paying. Rent in Southern California for a 2-bd (which by the way, we do not fit into) was raised to $1600 a month and I was forced to move back in with my parents.

Do I have reason/just cause to request a modification of support and to re-claim my dependants? Is there anything I can do about the fact he was ordered to pay below guideline support for the last 5yrs? I will also mention that I paid for all daycare costs while I was in school and that he refuses to pay his share.

Thanks for any advice.What is the name of your state?
Even though dad came claim the kids as dependents on his taxes, it has come to my attention, on this site recently that YOU can claim the EIC credit for them, you can also claim the child tax credit for child care. Hold tight, someone will come by and confirm this.

I live in Southern CA too and yes it is expensive but you CAN find somewhere cheaper to live. I pay $1300 for a 2 bedroom and it is in a very nice area. You can find something cheaper in a fairly nice area. You just have to look. The CS alone that you receive will pay rent and the 30K you make per year will take care of all other bills.

Regarding his not paying his share of child care, if he was ordered to do it and you have provided him receipts, you can take him to court for contempt.
 

Silverplum

Senior Member
Silver, that is the best site EVER!! Smarty! :)
Wow, thanks, but I didn't invent it! :eek: ;)

What I like so much about it is that you can get any state on that link, just by changing the last two characters to the state abbreviation...like "CO" or "AZ" or wherever. :) It's also kept very up-to-date and contains cites to the statutes.
 
About 3yrs ago we were in court fighting for the right for me to claim all the children on my tax return and his w-2 stated he was making $98,000 for the year 2004. The judge gave him the dependants based on the fact I was not working but in school at the time.

I no longer can support myself and my children on my income and the support he is paying. Rent in Southern California for a 2-bd (which by the way, we do not fit into) was raised to $1600 a month and I was forced to move back in with my parents.
1. Three years ago, when you were not working and were paying add'l for child care, how did you make ends meet? What has happened between then and now besides both you and your ex making more money?

2. If you had ANY earned income during previous years, you may be able to re-file your taxes for those years for a little boost from the EIC.
 

StampGirl

Senior Member
I received $1600 a month in child support and $300 a month in spousal support up until June 2005. I made ends meet because our condo payment was only $600 a month. I paid for daycare out of funds of a student loan I received while in school. Another grant I received from school paid for preschool for our middle child.

I had to sell the condo to pay for grad school, my half of our debt from the marriage, my divorce attorney ($$$$) and pay back my parents. I also lived on that income while I went to grad school.

If my rent hadn't gone up so much (from 1100 to 1600) then I wouldn't consider asking for more money. We don't even fit in a 2 bedroom apt even. Its way too cramped. We did it for a year and it was crazy. I had to move in with my parents (and pay them rent) because of the increase.

The reason for asking for modification is so that our support represents our true financial situations. I am tired of him and his new wife telling me that I should be "grateful" they pay me the money they do. Thats crap. If he wants to have it "right" then lets do it. Everywhere I have gone for dissomasters (even an attorney) states that I should be getting about $400 more. That would help me find my own place for the girls and I.
 

StampGirl

Senior Member
No I haven't received any spousal support since June of 05. He always pays his CS. He just doesn't take his kids when its his visitation often because of overtime at work (he is a cop).
 

Silverplum

Senior Member
No I haven't received any spousal support since June of 05. He always pays his CS. He just doesn't take his kids when its his visitation often because of overtime at work (he is a cop).
Just FYI: He doesn't HAVE to use his parenting time. It's his right, but not his obligation.
 

StampGirl

Senior Member
I am aware of that. Its just hard on the girls when they don't see their dad very often. But when we discuss money, he always says that he has the girls every time he is supposed to. Yes, I have documented all visits and cancellations.
 

jbowman

Senior Member
So you havent received the $300 per month since June 05. Is that because the order was over? There usually is a time limit for Spousal Support.

But you HAVE received the $1600 in CS each month plus you earn 30k per year? I find it VERY hard to believe that you cant make it on that in Southern CA. It is expensive, but not THAT expensive.

Anyways, go to court to modify if you think his income has gone up so much.
 

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