Calculating child support amount

[JKBee]

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

Does anyone know the general basic calculations for child support in Washington? My son is going to court as the custodial parent to have child support awarded to him for one child. The wife is currently making about $1600 a month after deductions. Today he was told he would only get $50 a month for support. The wife and her boyfriend are living with the boyfriend's parents, so living expenses are minimal. Pulling up the calculations I could find, the amount came to about $325 a month for child support. Since my son's computer is not working, he asked me to post this for him. This amount seems extremely low and unreasonable, but he would appreciate anyone who can give a calculation table that is realistic.

 

[Proserpina]

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

Does anyone know the general basic calculations for child support in Washington? My son is going to court as the custodial parent to have child support awarded to him for one child. The wife is currently making about $1600 a month after deductions. Today he was told he would only get $50 a month for support. The wife and her boyfriend are living with the boyfriend's parents, so living expenses are minimal. Pulling up the calculations I could find, the amount came to about $325 a month for child support. Since my son's computer is not working, he asked me to post this for him. This amount seems extremely low and unreasonable, but he would appreciate anyone who can give a calculation table that is realistic.

I've literally JUST finished doing this for one of my SDs

Home Default: Washington State Division of Child Support

Go there, and run the numbers.

 

[JKBee]

Thank you very much.

 

[LdiJ]

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

Does anyone know the general basic calculations for child support in Washington? My son is going to court as the custodial parent to have child support awarded to him for one child. The wife is currently making about $1600 a month after deductions. Today he was told he would only get $50 a month for support. The wife and her boyfriend are living with the boyfriend's parents, so living expenses are minimal. Pulling up the calculations I could find, the amount came to about $325 a month for child support. Since my son's computer is not working, he asked me to post this for him. This amount seems extremely low and unreasonable, but he would appreciate anyone who can give a calculation table that is realistic.

Who told him he would get only 50.00 a month?

Child support is NOT based on expenses. Its based on income and timeshare.

 

[Proserpina]

Thank you very much.

You're welcome. The site is actually incredibly helpful - it links to many useful tools.

 

[Proserpina]

Who told him he would get only 50.00 a month?

Child support is NOT based on expenses. Its based on income and timeshare.

WA state can take household expenses into account - I just had to go through this with youngest SD :/

 

[DAD09]

God forbid that a parent, pay more than what the court orders, I plan on assisting Mom for our son as much as possible. Why don't parents understand that CS is for their children, its not as if the other parent is going on a cruise with the money.

 

[Proserpina]

God forbid that a parent, pay more than what the court orders, I plan on assisting Mom for our son as much as possible. Why don't parents understand that CS is for their children, its not as if the other parent is going on a cruise with the money.

While I completely get your point...the reality is that CS is actually for the custodial parent - it's to reimburse the costs of raising the child.

If the CP wishes to spend it on twice-weekly mani/pedis, they are perfectly entitled to do so provided kiddo is fed, housed and clothed. Y'know?

 

[JKBee]

I want to thank everyone for their help here. My daughter joined and has told me how to pick up these threads, finally. My son is currently jobless, as his wife insisted he stay home and care for daughter since her birth. His injuries he received in military have progressed until he has had to apply for disability, as no one would hire him because of same when he did try to find work. At present,all doctors are in agreement for 100% disability. He should begin to receive this in the next month or so. At present, his father and I are providing total support for him and his daughter.
His lawyer called him Friday afternoon (hearing is first thing Monday morning) and told him he is going to be only getting $50. As there are four adults living in this residence where his wife resides, three currently working and one receiving retirement benefits, the paperwork on the net Proserpina sent me to shows that all adults and incomes should be included in this. Is this correct?
Wife, soon to be ex, is living quite well. She bought a brand new car, has expensive cell phone, buys new clothes for self, and pays pretty expensive hair cuts, dyes, etc. Also has bought new furniture for herself, even though my son offered her some of the furniture she bought just before she left.
Yet she even refuses to return her daughter's computer, which is interfering with her schoolwork. Each of them had computers, so she took her own and the daughter's. Then she ruined my son's with viruses, which is the same as she did to her first husbands, intentionally.
To date she has never paid one cent for child support for three children, the first one a son she has not even tried to contact in over 12 years. She claimed she couldn't find him, but three minutes and a dollar and Intellius located him and gave me his address. Since she is much, much more computer literate than I, she could easily have done the same.
Now as my son goes into court for support, we all appreciate the help here.

 

[haiku]

God forbid that a parent, pay more than what the court orders, I plan on assisting Mom for our son as much as possible. Why don't parents understand that CS is for their children, its not as if the other parent is going on a cruise with the money.

Paying the fair amount of court ordered child support also insures that a non custodial parent can succeed in providing a home for themselves and a home for the child when the child is with them.

playing a martyr as the NCP, is not a really healthy attitude to have. Both of you are responible for supporting your own self, and the childs needs.