M
MdGlenn
Guest
My question is,in Maryland, does determination of child support for an illegitimate child take into account children from a marriage?
I live in Maryland, and have been married for 20 years. My wife and I have two children from our present marriage. I was served papers in January 2000 for a paternity suit from an extramarital affair 13 years ago.
To my chagrin, to child was found to be mine and I hired an attorney to help in determining child support responsibility. I am retired, but have usually worked in addition to my retirement income. The agreement was handled through my attorney and the county attorney, and did not go to court. I have been making payments, and have added the child on my health insurance (another story altogether).
At the time of the negotiations, I was going through a lot of turmoil emotionally, and at home, as this was a complete and devastating revelation to my wife, and I did not question, or dispute anything. Also during that time, I had knee replacement surgery, and had to leave my job. It was a contract position, and my position was filled. I have not been rehired.
The determined support seemed very high, is a burden to meet, and has caused a great deal of strife in my marriage. I began to research the Maryland guidelines, and see that the determination was based soley on a formula that takes into account my income and the income of the mother. My question is should the determination have included my financial responsibility to my other two legitimate children?
I do not want it thought that I am trying to shirk my responsibility, but the circumstances are that I have two other children, home expenses, and am looking at college expenses very shortly.
I live in Maryland, and have been married for 20 years. My wife and I have two children from our present marriage. I was served papers in January 2000 for a paternity suit from an extramarital affair 13 years ago.
To my chagrin, to child was found to be mine and I hired an attorney to help in determining child support responsibility. I am retired, but have usually worked in addition to my retirement income. The agreement was handled through my attorney and the county attorney, and did not go to court. I have been making payments, and have added the child on my health insurance (another story altogether).
At the time of the negotiations, I was going through a lot of turmoil emotionally, and at home, as this was a complete and devastating revelation to my wife, and I did not question, or dispute anything. Also during that time, I had knee replacement surgery, and had to leave my job. It was a contract position, and my position was filled. I have not been rehired.
The determined support seemed very high, is a burden to meet, and has caused a great deal of strife in my marriage. I began to research the Maryland guidelines, and see that the determination was based soley on a formula that takes into account my income and the income of the mother. My question is should the determination have included my financial responsibility to my other two legitimate children?
I do not want it thought that I am trying to shirk my responsibility, but the circumstances are that I have two other children, home expenses, and am looking at college expenses very shortly.