Mediation successful - thank you all for your help!

[summerdawn]

What is the name of your state? IL

We had our mediation session today and things went very well. We were done in under 2 hours and we both feel very comfortable & happy with our long-distance parenting agreement. The mediator joked that we were too easy and he wouldn't make any money off of us...hehehe

I felt so prepared coming into the session when I brought up many of the points that were suggested to me in this forum. I want to thank you all SO MUCH for your insights & advice. You've been immensely helpful!

They really are great aren't they? I'm glad things went so smoothly for you-I know I wouldn't have felt NEARLY as confident going into mediation if I hadn't found this site.

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

I just put in a call to my SBTX and told him about what I've read on the forums and asked him if he feels the same way I do that this seems to be a big can of worms that's just not worth the potential tax issues with the IRS. If he agrees with me, we'll just tell our attorneys that although the mediator recommended using unallocated maintenance and support, we'd prefer to keep to strictly as child support.

From what you mentioned, it did sound like part of the money you expect to receive will be alimony. If you were to use the child support calculator, you can figure out what portion is child support and which portion is alimony.

 

[CJane]

From what you mentioned, it did sound like part of the money you expect to receive will be alimony. If you were to use the child support calculator, you can figure out what portion is child support and which portion is alimony.

It's very simple in Illinois, as it's a flat percentage of the NCP's net income. this isn't 'net' as in what NCP brings home in his/her check, it's gross minus allowable deductions.

Anyway, here's the chart:

1-20%

2-28%

3-32%

4-40%

5-45%

6 or more-50%

 

[SopranoKris]

We decided to just go with standard CS (one child) and no alimony.