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CS question

Anne4's picture

Since there has been a lot of talk about CS lately, I was wondering if anyone knows CA state law regarding spouse income. I have searched the internet but cannot find an answer.

My DH pays BM $550 a month for his 3 girls. We have complete 50/50 custody and split every expense equally. BM chooses to be un/underemployed while DH works 2 jobs. BM is also married to a guy who makes 6 figures. I take in more money than DH but no where near that amount and I also have my DS10 to support. So we can barely afford to pay for our half of the kids' expenses, and truth be told I am actually paying for all that because DH doesn't have enough left out of his check after other expenses. While BM and her husband live it up going out all the time, 2 - 3 cruises per year (seriously!), etc.

I know technically BM's husband and myself aren't financially responsible for the girls, but we are the ones who are actually supporting them. Doesn't quality of life factor in somewhere? We barely scrape by and can't do any extras, while BM is living the high life. We split every expense 50/50 and they live with us 50/50. They have the better quality of life. What exactly is our $550 going for? It's so frustrating!

I guess my question is, do courts consider spouse income as it contributes to household income and quality of life? DH says mo, that it only matters how much he makes and how much BM makes. Just doesn't seem right...

Comments

herewegoagain's picture

Here is the info...

http://www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp-support.htm
http://www.childsup.ca.gov/Portals/0/resources/docs/pub160_english.pdf

Now, while I do not believe they can count spousal income, if the BM has to fill out expenses, etc in her income sheet, I would assume that those would be minimum if her DH makes so much.

PS-try paying that cs for one kid in TX where the cost of living is peanuts compared to CA