NCP income

SimpleLife
Tue, 29 Jul 2014 23:31:08 +0000

I’m not sure if it’s still this way or not, but in Texas, child support has been/was long capped at a percentage of a max income of $60K, I think it was. Something rather low. So it wouldn’t matter if OP’s D’s father made $500K or $200K or $60K, the child support for one child would be the same. Unless things have changed in the past half a decade or so. It’s really sucky legislation, imo.

Another thing that I was set on bringing up as I read this thread, though the OP eventually revealed her exact situation and I learned that my “caveat” did not apply to her, was that, in Texas, and likely in other states, if a person agrees to a child support amount in a mediated settlement (as opposed to ordered by the court), that person is arguably bound to that settlement amount regardless of large changes to the NCP’s income. I learned this the hard way. I agreed to way less than the court would have ordered, had we ever had an opportunity to get in front of the court for a final hearing. I agreed because I thought that almost 6 years tied up in conflict in the Texas court system was probably long enough – for me, and more importantly, for the kids. So, I slowly but surely settled for just about every single demand he ever made, many of which were unreasonable. But it’s only money. My sanity and potential peace in my kids’ lives were worth far more than getting blood from a stingy, misguided turnip.

Also in Texas, child support ends at age 18 or graduation from high school, whichever is later. Period. Unless the couple wants to make some other voluntary arrangement. There is no consideration for college. And, as one can see by reading threads like this, there are plenty of people who, mysteriously, aren’t interested in serving the best interests of their children.

My kids fared more than fine, as it turned out, with merit scholarships galore. (Thank you, God!) But years ago, I was writing threads just like this one.

My kids were also able to get every single college to discount their NCP’s income in all calculations during the admissions process – yes, even those private universities that pretty much solely relied on the CSS Profile to determine aid. But it took various amounts of extra paperwork that often amounted to LOTS of extra paperwork. In his case, he wasn’t in the children’s lives at all. As in, they still haven’t seen him or heard from him since they were middle schoolers.

I think it is sometimes hard for people who have not lived with this sort of conflict or immersion in the court system to understand that courts and legislation are not “fair” or even logical at times. It was easy for me to understand and believe that this OP was stuck with her child support amount as I read along. But I could see that, because it is unfair and somewhat nonsensical, several of you couldn’t believe that the OP had already exhausted all avenues for more support.

This sort of thing happens every day. Parents are, unfortunately, not all imbued with a sense of responsibility for their children.

My heart goes out to you, OP. Keep plugging along. It all, miraculously, worked out for my kids. I hope you can say the same in 10 years or so!

All my best to you and yours!