Q: Yes I’m 45 and have been divorced for almost 3 years. I adopted her two kids and we had one together ages 18,16,5
I have paid my child support every week out of my check. We agreed on $198 a week. My oldest and my middle one do not come see me at all. I only get the youngest one. They know there suppose to but don’t cause there Mom don’t make them. My question is can I do anything about dropping the child support any? The lawyer I had was not very good as I have been finding out. The oldest graduates high school but I still have to pay till he is at the age of 20. Is there any chance of me getting any of this reversed. If I was to try and hire a lawyer can I have my child support dropped any so I can make it a little better than what I am. Thanks
A: No one is going to be able to answer your question without reviewing your paperwork. Whether or not you can get a reduction depends on a variety of factors - what your income is now, her income is now, what the expenses of the children are, etc. Also, child support until 20 is rare. Most child support is paid until graduation and age 18, expect that if the child is still in high school, then it's paid until age 20. The fact that you don't see 2 of them is a factor that would make your support go up, not down, as you aren't incurring expenses for them when they visit. It's also possible that support for 2 children could be about the same as what you are paying for 3. You are paying $857 per month. If the support dropped at all, it would probably be in an amount that would take you years to break even on the attorneys fees to get it - if you got the reduction at all. With an amount that low, you probably should let it be.
A:
Unfortunately, child support isn't tied to whether the children follow the visitation schedule.
You can file a motion for contempt against her for the middle child. However, at 16, that child has the right to voice his/her choice on visitation/custody. Normally, judges will not follow the wishes of the child who wants no contact with the parent unless there are allegations of abuse.
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