Amount of Child Support

[Newlydivmomto4]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I currently live in California and have full physical and legal custody of the children between my ex and myself. He recently got orders (military) to Virginia and left 2 wks ago for the 3 year assignment. With him not living in California anymore, there is not much holding me here so I'm considering moving to another state. I am considering Illinois, Kentucky or Arizona.
In trying to figure out the cost of living and what I can afford, I started to wonder. Will the amount of child support that my ex has to pay go down? I have gone to the child support calculators for particular states and it is making me hesitate. Has anyone moved and had their child support gone down because of it?

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I currently live in California and have full physical and legal custody of the children between my ex and myself. He recently got orders (military) to Virginia and left 2 wks ago for the 3 year assignment. With him not living in California anymore, there is not much holding me here so I'm considering moving to another state. I am considering Illinois, Kentucky or Arizona.
In trying to figure out the cost of living and what I can afford, I started to wonder. Will the amount of child support that my ex has to pay go down? I have gone to the child support calculators for particular states and it is making me hesitate. Has anyone moved and had their child support gone down because of it?

Are you relying upon receiving CS as your income?

 

[Newlydivmomto4]

No, heck no. I am a full time federal employee and will not move unless I am moving to another full time federal job. The benefits and job security are big requirements for me. I just don't make any changes or moves in life without weighing all the options and pros and cons before trying to make the best decision for my children and myself.

I have gone on a few websites and their generic calculators are saying anywhere from 1200-1600 per month in child support. Which is 500+ less than what the children receive now. What I'm debating on is what is better, going to a lower cost of living area, getting a better sized house for us (we live in a small apt right now), and being closer to Dad (who will likely move in another 3 yrs); or keep them in the area they have always lived, let them stay in the same schools for longer than 1 yr, and move into a little bigger place up the street.

Please understand I'm not a money grubber, I am just trying to figure out what is best for the kids.

 

[nextwife]

Neither salary nor CS is a clear reason to choose one over another place. One can earn more, or get more child support in a given location, yet have a lower standard of living. Example, my husband could more than double his income if we lived in LA or NYC, because of far better emplyment in his industry, but we'd actually be lowering our standard of living by leaving this home and this location. One must look at the quality of schools, the type of environment, housing costs, all combined taxes, access to music, the arts, etc, overall crime, ability to enjoy one's environment and home, and way more than whether this or that state has a higher or lower CS dollar potential.

 

[mmmagique]

NDM, just call a local family law atty. They can probably answer this question easily over the phone.

Good luck!