Change in child support payments!!!!

[cfrman]

I posted a question earlier and it hasn't shown up on the board. Well, I'll go ahead and ask again.

I am currently in the Marine Corps stationed in TX. I have a 7 yr old daughter that was born out of wedlock and I was never married to her mother. They both reside in the state of FL. I pay $250 per month in child support. I am currently an E-3 in the Corps and my take home pay is roughly $1000 a month not including deductions for child support. I also pay for my daughters monthly health/dental insurance and life insurance in case should anything happen to me while I am serving. My childs mother and I have never had any dealings with the courts. I was giving her $400-$450 per month while she was in school full time. Since then she has graduated with her B.A. I told her that I was going to cut down on some of the child support because since she is now finished with school she can get a full time job. She has not gotten a full time job (even though she has had offers and graduated 8 months ago) and now wants to take me to court. she feels I am not giving her enough. My question is this; how does the state of FL determine child support and could you give me a rough estimate on the amount I would have to pay?

 

[usmcfamily]

First of all, please please please tell me that you have been making ALL your payments by CHECK!?!?!?!.....that is the only way, since your support is not court ordered yet, that you will be able to prove having paid ANYTHING to the mother (this is important as it can help you out should she claim you haven't provided support - and no matter how well you think you know someone they can always surprise you!).
That having been said - try http//:fcn.state.fl.us/dor/childsupport/ ..... this is a website from the Florida dept. of revenue that addresses child support issues....
When/if she files her petition for support the courts will notify you and you will be required to provide your current LES's to show your income - and she will also provide her financial information ..... both groups of numbers will be plugged into a formula and the "magic number" will be produced to show how much you will pay. There are "ceiling amounts" that will protect you from having too much of your gross taken to allow you to provide for yourself and it is easiest to have it garnished directly from your pay.
As a side note - now is a good time for you to be petitioning for legally recognized visitation rights - you didn't mention them in your post and it is always advisable to have legally enforceable rights to your child.
I would like to say it is refreshing to hear from someone such as yourself taking the responsibility as you have to provide for their child....
Good luck and God Bless

 

[LegalBeagle]

Your defence to a raise will be her qualifications and lack of interest in getting a job. You can ask the judge to imput a salary based on what she could be earning.