<p>No surprise there – fiance couldn’t pay for an attorney and ex’s family paid for her attorney, according to OP.</p>
<p>At time of divorce he was a grad student and worked as a TA - probably made no more than $20,000/yr possibly supplemented by part-time jobs plus student loans. His child support obligation is about 1/3 of current salary.</p>
<p>He could go back and have it recalculated by the courts. Most states have it online and you can do a free calc. But the ex likely isn’t making a bundle either and kids cost a lot. He may be paying a high percentage but it’s still not a lot of money all by itself when raising two kids. Adn like it or not reducing support may mean his kids move to a worse neighborhood, etc.</p>
<p>So, assuming fiance earns $35,000, that’s almost $1000/month in child support. What are his student loan payments now? (I know OP doesn’t know, just some questions to ask if your d doesn’t already know.) What will her student loan payments be? </p>
<p>The children are young, so child support will continue for quite a number of years. What happens when d has a baby? What if she wants to stay home for a few years with her baby, but can’t (partly) because h has to support his other children? Just some things to think about…and there are the questions also about college expenses for the stepchildren, which will come long before college expenses for her own child(ren). </p>
<p>I just hope she has her eyes wide open, and realizes the sacrifices and compromises her life will entail because she is marrying a divorced man who pays child support for young children.</p>
<p>I am all for paying child support. He needs to meet his obligations to his children.</p>
<p>But, spousal support, while making 30K? Sorry, but not at 30K/year salary. His ex should get a job that supports her. This is ridiculous.</p>
<p>Although it may be ridiculous, it is not the OP’s daughter’s place to start complaining about their divorce agreement. With time after being married, after she has seen things fully for what they are, if the husband is unhappy with the arrangement, is struggling because of the arrangment, then she may speak to her husband about it. It is not her place to say the ex wife does not deserve spousal support, especially when she is just the fiance.</p>
<p>Sounds like with premarital counseling, they also may benefit from financial counseling. After paying 1/3 to ex and loans and taxes, there isn’t much left of that income to live on. Just something for the couple to consider.</p>
<p>HImom and CTTC are right. Your daughter might have to come to terms with the fact that she can’t have bio-children because they can’t afford to support another child. It’s hard to support three kids on a $35,000 salary. Glad to hear they are getting premarital counseling.</p>
<p>Well, presumably the OP’s D will also have a lowish $30,000 salary, but also has loans. It is definately something that both partners have to enter with eyes wide open, especially of there is any thought of adding any more kids or expenses to the D and fianc</p>