There are a lot of decisions to be made about money and splitting property when you get divorced. Most of those decisions are one-time only. You and your ex-spouse come to an agreement to split the property or the court makes a judgment on how to split it.
But when it comes to negotiating child support, things get tricky. There’s a common misconception that once you come to an agreement on child support, that it’s all settled and done with. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Child support payments will be set up during the divorce process, but can change if either parent’s income changes significantly or the amount of time each parent spends with the child changes.
In the state of California, there is a statewide formula for calculating child support payments. This is especially helpful because it removes emotion from the process. Child support payments are based on the amount of income each parent makes, how much time each parent spends with the kids, and how many kids they have together. Using the formula can speed up the process, but there are still gray areas. Here are a few ways you can ensure that the process is as easy and pain-free as possible:
1. Keep records of child support payments. It’s important to keep good records of all the child support money you pay or receive. You can never rely on a third party to keep accurate records for you.
2. Keep written correspondence with your ex concerning how the child support money is being spent. This will help stop disagreements before they start. Verbal agreements and resolutions will do you no good if you have to go to court.
3. Keep the lines of communication open. Handling money situations with your ex can be very trying. Make an agreement at the onset that neither of you will withhold child support due to a disagreement about something else. If you do have issues with your spouse withholding child support, keep accurate records and discuss with your lawyer right away. There are serious consequences for withholding child support payments!
If you’re looking for a solution to help you keep accurate records of child support payments and correspondence, SupportPay is exactly what you need!
SupportPay calculates each parent’s expenses based on your support orders and agreements and automates the payment process for you. You can also schedule automatic payments.
By providing a safe place to document and submit payments, SupportPay eliminates the need for complex back-and-forth between parents. We also provide a way to keep certain expenses private, and a straightforward dispute process to help resolve cases where an expense is questioned.
Trying to keep records of your entire financial life isn’t easy. We let you store all your relevant information and documents in one secure central location, making book-keeping and paperwork a breeze.
SupportPay brings transparency and clarity to the emotionally charged world of payments. You get a better understanding of where money is being spent and can focus solely on your child instead of tracking down receipts.