The only things that actually go into the the CS equation are your income, her income, daycare expenses (which aren't an issue in your case), and health insurance for minor children. You can also use court ordered CS paid by you for another minor child of a previous marriage (but, since you don't have that...not an issue). The CS is based on the lifestyle that the children could have had you not split. To be honest, her income is a small portion of the equation! You can get a reduction in CS if the kids stay with you more of the time (when we started the process it was something like more than every other weekend and 6 weeks in the summer). But, "staying" means overnight visits to your place of residence. We ran into that because my STBXH keeps the boys on Wednesday nights putting him over the limit. However, legally, she has no right to ask for additional money to cover rent, etc. for the kids. She's supposed to cover all additional expenses for the minor children from the calculated amount.
Mind??? Heck, I'm GRATEFUL!! Thanks!
In in the alt universe, under the name of a former radioactive rock star (no "d") who hangs around with some bad company when he's not fronting for Queen.
Here in the Jacksonville area of FL, the family courts may be slightly different, but you kwim. . .
What I still don't know how to calculate is that IF we can't sell the house for quite awhile, what is an equitable allocation of its monthly costs, and what am I allowed to "count" that toward?
I would really like to do as Oldtimer said, and just come up with a monthly amount of "$X", which includes the mandated child support and it includes an agreed-upon amount of spousal support. But the house throws a wrench into all of that. I'm almost certain that I can count the mortgage and utilities and taxes and insurance for the house as "spousal support," if I continue to pay it until such time as we can sell it, but I don't want that amount (which is more than $4k/mo.!) to set a precedent as a monthly alimony amount, kwim???
