This seems like a lot of money.....

AnxiousMum

butterfly72 wrote: »

And as for my brothers wage, I didn't realise he was on that much!! Well done him for working hard.:T

Thanks again.

Yes! Well done your brother! When we make that important decision to have a child or children, we also take on the resonsibility to do the best by them in every way - financially, emotionally, socially. Unfortunately, they are not cheap to raise! Syes, good on your brother for fulfilling those needs.

jen_br

See this is where I have to say back in canada we had a GREAT system...

child maintence is done in courts... Where both parents submit wages and expenses and then a judge decides whats fair. I mean obviously there are 2 rents or mortgages, 2 lots of expenses etc. So a judge declares whats reasonable and then sets an amount. Which also includes visitation. I wish taht was the case in teh uk

TOO many NRP get denied visitation from what I am reading and even though they pay. very sad.

AnxiousMum

jen_br wrote: »

See this is where I have to say back in canada we had a GREAT system...

child maintence is done in courts... Where both parents submit wages and expenses and then a judge decides whats fair. I mean obviously there are 2 rents or mortgages, 2 lots of expenses etc. So a judge declares whats reasonable and then sets an amount. Which also includes visitation. I wish taht was the case in teh uk

TOO many NRP get denied visitation from what I am reading and even though they pay. very sad.

That's a long long time ago Jen BR - and only both sets of parents need to submit household expenses if there are extracurricular expenses, such as access costs etc. Then the judge makes a ruling based on the standards of living in both homes and how much each parent can contribute to the extra expenses. Example: I pay 60% of the access costs (airfares) for my two boys - as that was what was deemed acceptable.

Other than that - child support there is very very strict. You earn X amount of $ per month, you have X number of children, you pay X amount of child support. There is very rarely any variation from that.

Yes, Provincial courts in Canada deal with child support AND visitation, as well as anything required in regards to the children, unless of course you are already divorced, and then it's dealt with through the Supreme Courts.

The Judge can only make a variation if there is a distinct difference in the standards of living test - it's a federal law put in place by the Department of Justice - the employer of the Judges - therefore, they have to uphold it.

And yes, that system IS great - I'm glad it's the one I'm using

Just to add: A paying parent would find it very very hard to quit their job to get out of child support as well, as the court will look at the last 3 years earnings, and impute an income on them anyway based on the average of the three years.

Parents also need to provide each other with tax return copies each year (I know we have to do it by May of each year) so that each parent can see if there is a need to go for variation based on changes of circumstances.

A whole lot easier, a whole lot fairer (and it is very rare that a non custodial parent will NOT get joint custody and regular time with a child), and a whole lot more enforcable should either party fail to keep to their end of the deal.

They really DO put the kids needs first - and not the needs of either parent goes above the needs of the child.

McKneff

woody01 wrote: »

Why not?
Your argument makes no sense at all.
If the rich nrp pays more, that will not benefit the child from the poorer family.

Its about what is reasonable to live on surely.

You need to read post 7 again.

PlayingHardball

Butterfly - well done to your brother for supporting his children according to his means. I was in your ex sister-in-laws position, divorced to a high earner. Things went terribly wrong between us when he became very bitter about the amount he had to pay (there was only one child, so he didn't pay as much as your ex, but would have done had there been 3 children)

While he paid more than some, it enabled me to continue to provide for our child to the best of my ability, I worked full time, and still do.

I hope your brother gives happily and manages to keep bitterness out of the equation for the sake of his kids, and maintaining a good relationship with their mother. I'm pleased you've taken the comments from this thread on board and realise why he is paying what he is paying.

I don't know the particular circumstances of your brothers ex, but don't assume the mother is always down at the salon getting her nails and hair done, rather, assume she is providing a consistancy of lifestyle for your brothers children.