How to calculate child support

[onmytime]

What is the name of your state? Arizona
My ex and I are in the process of establishing custody & support. We are civil and are working together to make things as smooth as possible. However one of the things we don't agree on his child support. My attorney said don't worry about coming to an agreement because child support is calculated (no need for negotiations there). I am trying to prepare for daycare expenses (right now our child is staying with family while I go to work. Once everything has been legally established & I'm receiving support our child will go to daycare). I was trying to work out the calculations on the child support calculation sheet but can not figure what dollar amount should be used for "Support of Other Children". He has two children from a previous relationship (both under 12 & he does not have a court order for him to pay support, although he does support them) and I have one (other than the one we have together) who is 12. From what I understand if someone is supporting a child 12 and over the expense is more. So my questions are:

What dollar amount do I fill in for "Support of Other Children" for the two he has? And what dollar amount do I fill in for my support of my 12 yr old? And how is that amount derived or figured?

 

[VeronicaGia]

What is the name of your state? Arizona
My ex and I are in the process of establishing custody & support. We are civil and are working together to make things as smooth as possible. However one of the things we don't agree on his child support. My attorney said don't worry about coming to an agreement because child support is calculated (no need for negotiations there). I am trying to prepare for daycare expenses (right now our child is staying with family while I go to work. Once everything has been legally established & I'm receiving support our child will go to daycare). I was trying to work out the calculations on the child support calculation sheet but can not figure what dollar amount should be used for "Support of Other Children". He has two children from a previous relationship (both under 12 & he does not have a court order for him to pay support, although he does support them) and I have one (other than the one we have together) who is 12. From what I understand if someone is supporting a child 12 and over the expense is more. So my questions are:

What dollar amount do I fill in for "Support of Other Children" for the two he has? And what dollar amount do I fill in for my support of my 12 yr old? And how is that amount derived or figured?

Typically, unless there is a court order for support for those other children, they are not in the calculation.

 

[Inquiry123]

Be prepared...

You won't have to "agree" on a support amount...but you should be prepared with all of the relevant numbers. Daycare expense is one of those numbers.

You should interview several daycare providers and obtain a written estimate of cost based on the amount of time the the child will be cared for. You can't "ballpark" it or guess at an amount. Don't wait until the last minute...figure out what your schedule is going to be...and have the documentation ready when your atty asks for it.

http://www.supreme.state.az.us/dr/childsup/drguide.htm

The site above gives the most current worksheet used to calculate support in AZ.

In the space provided for "Support Of Other Children", you simply fill-in the NUMBER of other children (and the dollar amount populates automatically.) This is figured based on that parent's income...and would apply to children for whom that parent supports which are not covered by a support order.

In the space "Child Support Paid", a specific dollar amount can be entered for the amount of support paid by that parent as specified by a court order.

The "No. of Children Age 12 or Over" refers only to the children for whom THIS support order is being sought...not others which would be covered by the two items above. So, just enter "1" in the space provided if "my 12 yr old" refers to a child for whom you are seeking support (otherwise, "0" would be the appropriate entry) and the dollar amount will populate automatically.

Good luck.