My W has just presented me with a bill for the month which consists of clothing, shoes, school dinners for the children. Also, the months food shopping for my W and the children.
My question is should I pay all this or should it be split 50/50? I do not currently pay child maintenance so I am not sure what I should pay.
Up to this point I have always paid all the bills, mortgage, rates etc, and know I am out of work I am getting my W to pay half of the mortgage and rates.
What should I do?
Bomb dropped: 19/12/08 Me:48 WAW:41 D:10 S:6 Married: 15 years
Your state probably has a CS formula that they use, which takes into account each of your incomes, how many days each of you has the kids, and a couple of other variables. In my state (FL), there is an online calculator that you can use. My advice would be to split the expenses as if a divorce court would.
Or even more simply, split them in proportion to your incomes.
As I am not working at present my child maintenance contribution would be �0. At present I do not pay any child maintenance so I should contribute to the childrens welfare.
My W is working but as a sign of goodwill I will propose to her a 50/50 split. I would say that is reasonable enough.
Bomb dropped: 19/12/08 Me:48 WAW:41 D:10 S:6 Married: 15 years
Can you "impute" a reasonable income to yourself? What would your income be if you WERE working, at a job for which you are qualified? If it's, say, half of what she makes, you might to propose a 33/67 split, which would be more than fair since you don't HAVE to impute an income to yourself (but if a contested D went to trial, a good atty could have that done to you).
If you're not working, how are you going to pay ANYthing?
Just make sure she gives you receipts for everything, and that it's really for the children. I don't trust her in her current state, and neither should you. When in doubt, err on the generous (kids) side, but verify as much as you can.
