Deadbeat Parents

Of the hundred of thousands of judicial orders issued by judges each year in the United States, more orders of support are ignored than any other judicial order. A majority of our society does not understand what a support order does or the reasoning behind child support. Many confuse child support with spousal support, or feel that it is an option rather than necessity. Even worse, most people do not know how to get help to enforce support orders, thus leaving thousands of dollars in unpaid child support.

The purpose of child support

Child support serves a very good purpose. By court order, a court of law can regulate by legal means a monetary amount to be given to a custodial parent, for the benefit of a child, in order for the care and support of that child. Simply put, two parents are needed to create a child. Those parents should, theoretically, financially and emotionally share in the upbringing and care of that child. The money given for child support goes to the things that a child needs. Despite the fact that a parent, had there been no child, would have had those expenses regardless of the child, the money is still needed. Most people believe that since the money is not segregated that the money is used for the ex-spouse rather than the child. In most cases that is very inaccurate. Child support helps put a roof over a child's head, food on the table, and clothes on their back.

Unfairness

Child support is very fair. The amount that a person would pay in most states is established by statute on a sliding scale based on the COMBINED salaries of the parents. Then the amount is determined by establishing a percentage of the statutory amount based on contribution. Simplified, for example, if Mom makes 25K after tax per year and Dad makes 30K per year after taxes, the court will combine their after tax salary to be 55K. The court will then take that 55K salary and find the statutory amount for that range. Lets say it's $500.00 per month. Then to determine how much Mom would pay, the total amount is divided by Mom's salary. That is 45% of the amount. Child support will be determined by multiplying 45% times the $500.00. Which means Mom pays 225.00 per month in child support.

The reasoning behind this is that had the parents remained together, Mom would have met 45% of the families needs and Dad 55% based on their salary. Why should divorce change that in regards to the children?

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