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As far as I'm concerned, both parents are each 50% responsible for the following:
Financially supporting the kids
Raising the kids.
If the man provides 100% of the financial support and the woman does 75% of the raising......
He's bearing more of her responsibilities than she is of his.
Dig?
Additionally, he's also supporting her entirely - grown ass people should be working and paying for at least part of their own financial support.
Let's say someone stays in your house for free, you give them spending money, pay for their car, health care, food, clothes, assume part of the child rearing responsibilities and foot 100% of the money towards raising those kids, etc. I would think the least they could do is clean the house, wait for the repair guy and cook for you, no?
So I would think that 100% of the financial contribution with respect to the kids, 100% of the financial contribution towards supporting her and 25% of the child rearing responsibilities......outweighs her 50% of the child rearing responsibilities and the stuff she does around the house...
No?
You can be the most caring, loving and wise parent on earth - but if you and your family live on a street corner in the bowery, those kids are not going to have a good life.
So in my mind, the two contributions are NOT equal - this is not to devalue one over the other, I'm just saying they're not equal.
Furthermore, why is it that the dollar value of raising a Lawyer's kids is greater than raising a Teacher's kids? These things shouldn't be tied to income (IMO) - as you're basically seeking money to live the lifestyle of a "Lawyer's wife" moreso than seeking money to raise the kids.
Personally, I think that after Divorce, Child Support is for THE KIDS, not the Mother - once the marriage is over the mother should support herself. At most the ex-husband should be paying for no more than 50% of the mother's own expenses.
If the Lawyer father wants to buy his secretary ex-wife a Volvo to drive his kids around in (I'd do that if I were in that situation) because she can only afford a Focus - that's cool - but it shouldn't be part of the Divorce Settlement per se, unless it's a situation where there are five kids and she can't afford a large enough car.
In that case, they should split that expense porportionately or maybe the kids should live with Dad, since Mom can't afford it.
To me - the marriage should be considered a wash based on an agreement betewen the two parties - he doesn't "owe" her extra loot for raising the kids, she doesn't owe him for supporting her.
It's just about the kids now, what do the kids need to be supported financially, NOT what Mommy needs.
I'm a child of Divorce - my mother used my child support on Me only - excess was put into a joint account with both of our names on it, that I got control of when I turned 18.
As far as I'm concerned, a mother receiving child support should follow my mother's example - if she can't the kids should be with Dad.
Peace,
M2
The Blog: http://www.analyticalwealth.com/
An assassins life is never easy. Still, it beats being an assassins target.
Enjoy your money, but live below your means, lest you become a 70-yr old Wal-Mart Greeter.
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