Society/Culture Child Support

[fleabitten]

Can somebody please tell me more about the legal connection between child support and custody and how an increase/decrease in support affects custody? Preferably a legal document or something .gov rather than an anecdotal story about your or your friend's horrible ex.

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/cu...tage-care-affects-your-child-support-payments
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/cu...ut-child-support-payments-using-basic-formula

I don't really understand it all that well as I've never been privy to my ex's reported income but that shows the connection between % of custody and the amount you have to pay.

 

[chelseacarlton]

I have raised my step son since he was 4,I have always done so as if he were my own.
Funny thing is,he is my own.

His "father" has had him less than 20 nights a year for the past 7 years,and has only been responsible for around $50 a month,due to some clever accounting or without a court appointed family order.
He refuses to pay his measly amount ontime ever and is always several months in arrear,or for any extras,school camps,computer upgrades,surf boards,presents etc etc
The last financial year he earned well over $100k so my missus went hard and got a family court order and he is now responsible for $950 a month.
Our boy is now he 11,he requires a lot of emotional and financial support.
His dad has constantly mentally abused my partner and has threatened us on several occasions.
Our sons welfare and wellbeing has tested our resolve in giving him any custody at all over the last 7 years,given some of the horrific stories we all know too well,considering we live in Frankston and know people associated with the Batty's.
I treasure my step son as much as if he were of my own lineage and my father feels the same.
He is my best friend and we are deeply spiritually connected.
This is a vastly complicated subject and far more emotive than most threads on this site.
I don't have the answers,but from a step fathers point of view,this shit needs an overhaul so it cannot be exploited in the way it has been from all sides,including the courts.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Edit: See the 2nd link above.

As someone who has to deal with the financial implications of divorce and child-support every day, I would think the court system is currently at least 30% bias against the "fair" position. For every "deadbeat dad", there would be 4-5 "welfare mums" who's new partner earns as much, or more than the child's father.

The default is 100% care to mum, 100% costs to dad, then dad's issue to prove otherwise. Sadly for most dads, the issue of access is FAR, FAR more important than the money and they will fight (sometimes to bankruptcy) to get it. It is a SICK system and very easily manipulated by those it is setup to advantage.

But when giving up an extra day costs you $1000s each year - there goes that holiday.

 

[chelseacarlton]

True, if the other parent is abusing the child or is bad for the child. What else?
Realistically you could be come th emost souless submissive whatever, to make your partner happy to stay with you.
Otherwise your admitting that you do make some axceptions for your own life, as much as you love your kid.
Lots of people say that nothing is more important than there kids. But sometimes watching a grand final comes before playing cars or barbies.
Look back at every decision youve ever made. Was there not a single selfish choice you made? Or were you really altruistic?

You seriously have no ****ing idea mate.
Just stfu,youre intervening into territory you are so obviously intellectually religitarded and I'll equipped to deal with emotionally in the "real" world.

 

[Present Not Past]

I have raised my step son since he was 4,I have always done so as if he were my own.
Funny thing is,he is my own.

His "father" has had him less than 20 nights a year for the past 7 years,and has only been responsible for around $50 a month,due to some clever accounting or without a court appointed family order.
He refuses to pay his measly amount ontime ever and is always several months in arrear,or for any extras,school camps,computer upgrades,surf boards,presents etc etc
The last financial year he earned well over $100k so my missus went hard and got a family court order and he is now responsible for $950 a month.
Our boy is now he 11,he requires a lot of emotional and financial support.
His dad has constantly mentally abused my partner and has threatened us on several occasions.
Our sons welfare and wellbeing has tested our resolve in giving him any custody at all over the last 7 years,given some of the horrific stories we all know too well,considering we live in Frankston and know people associated with the Batty's.
I treasure my step son as much as if he were of my own lineage and my father feels the same.
He is my best friend and we are deeply spiritually connected.
This is a vastly complicated subject and far more emotive than most threads on this site.
I don't have the answers,but from a step fathers point of view,this shit needs an overhaul so it cannot be exploited in the way it has been from all sides,including the courts.

This is a beautiful post. You are a wonderful Dad.
But forget about the courts and shit like that. Just be a father to your son. That's all he wants and that's all he needs to be a man.
And remember, crap doesn't just come from the ex-partners. Some of the worst shit that you can imagine comes from within your own family.
But just stay strong and remember what really matters.