What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ
I was divorced in January 2008 in NJ. During the divorce, I became unemployed and received unemployment compensation. There is no alimony. At that time, joint custody of our adopted child was granted. Child support was waived. The child (12 y.o.) was adopted out of foster care and her mother receives a support stipend from the state plus medicaid for the child. She also receives disability compensation for herself, which may include a provision for the child as well. The judge stated that she believed I would spend more money on the child during visitation than the support award. The visitation allowed for every other weekend plus some holidays and a few weeks in the summer.
I found a job in Florida in February 2008 and moved out of state. I have since become unemployed once again in April 2009. I am working contractually whenever I can. The work is unstable. I would like to return to school to get my bachelor's degree in order to be more employable. My entire family lives in Florida and I have a second child here, so I do not anticipate returning to NJ. I have paid all round trip airfare for visits and provide for my child's needs when she lives with me and buy her things for school, she does not bring any belongings with her. She brings whatever we buy (that is portable, like clothes, school supplies, toys, etc..) back with her to NJ. This is most likely irrelevant in a court, but it is what the judge predicted would happen. There has been no change in the order or attempts to change the order since the original order. The current visiting arrangement is fine with me (as long as it is also fine with my child). My child is also welcome to move in with me. I would not prefer less custody or visitation than what her mother and I have agreed to informally. Her mother has not objected as far as I can tell. We only talk briefly and rarely to make visit arrangements, that she obviously agrees to. I don't really have more money for formal child support, and it is very difficult to decrease an award in NJ once it is established. NJ has a cost of living increase every two or three years. What could I expect in terms of changes in support and visitation orders? Thanks for any info or advice.
I was divorced in January 2008 in NJ. During the divorce, I became unemployed and received unemployment compensation. There is no alimony. At that time, joint custody of our adopted child was granted. Child support was waived. The child (12 y.o.) was adopted out of foster care and her mother receives a support stipend from the state plus medicaid for the child. She also receives disability compensation for herself, which may include a provision for the child as well. The judge stated that she believed I would spend more money on the child during visitation than the support award. The visitation allowed for every other weekend plus some holidays and a few weeks in the summer.
I found a job in Florida in February 2008 and moved out of state. I have since become unemployed once again in April 2009. I am working contractually whenever I can. The work is unstable. I would like to return to school to get my bachelor's degree in order to be more employable. My entire family lives in Florida and I have a second child here, so I do not anticipate returning to NJ. I have paid all round trip airfare for visits and provide for my child's needs when she lives with me and buy her things for school, she does not bring any belongings with her. She brings whatever we buy (that is portable, like clothes, school supplies, toys, etc..) back with her to NJ. This is most likely irrelevant in a court, but it is what the judge predicted would happen. There has been no change in the order or attempts to change the order since the original order. The current visiting arrangement is fine with me (as long as it is also fine with my child). My child is also welcome to move in with me. I would not prefer less custody or visitation than what her mother and I have agreed to informally. Her mother has not objected as far as I can tell. We only talk briefly and rarely to make visit arrangements, that she obviously agrees to. I don't really have more money for formal child support, and it is very difficult to decrease an award in NJ once it is established. NJ has a cost of living increase every two or three years. What could I expect in terms of changes in support and visitation orders? Thanks for any info or advice.
Final judgement was just after 20 years! (and not one moment too early). I think she may have angered the judge.