Can you come up with your own child support arrangements?

As a parent, something that you always want to do is to be able to provide for your children. They deserve the support of both their parents, and that is something that both you and your spouse agree on.

As you’ve worked through your divorce, one thing that has been a sticking point is the amount of child support that is to be paid. You realize that the amount your spouse wants is somewhat reasonable, but when you add it into your expenses, you’re left with next to nothing. You’d rather take some of that money to create a better home environment for your children when they’re in your custody.

Consider negotiating your own support payments

It’s a good idea to negotiate how much support you’ll pay if you’re in a position where the state guidelines or the amounts suggested won’t work for you. You may want to talk to the other parent about how the larger amount of support would negatively impact your standard of living as well as what you can provide for your children in your own home.

For example, if you have only $3,000 a month to live on and want to provide a quality home for your children, paying out $700 in child support may significantly limit the options you have. Both of you should weigh the positives and negatives of the support amount you’re discussing since it could impact both parents’ homes.

Can you make your own child support agreement?

If you want to come up with your own support payment amounts and agree outside court, that’s possible if both parents agree. Your attorney can help you draw up your support obligation and submit it to the court for approval.