Hi all, just wondering if anyone has insight to how this works, if my children's mother remarries and their combined income is double mine, does it affect child support? I already do pay more than recommended and i also have my children 5 nights a fortnight, take them on holidays and supply for them when they are with me. I just heard somewhere that marriage can change the circumstances
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No, marriage and the new partners income doesn’t change the child support obligation for the paying parent. The only income considered is the biological parents income.
Off topic and I know DHS and CSA aren't the same but are interrelated: if bio parent's income is all that counts for CSA but a new partner's income counts against single parent payments and FTB, it seems odd to me.
Agreed. The system makes it hard for anyone wanting to move on after a separation with children involved
The new partners income assets absolutely nothing will be calculated in the assessment. It’s purely based on the bio mum’s earnings.
Thanks for the insight. So if their mum also earns more than me just on her income alone and has more assets (owns a house whilst i rent) how does that affect it? We have never gone through the courts and i just pay her so am curious if she is benefiting a lot more this way. I of course am happy to provide for my kids, but also dont want to be taken for a ride
So you have approx 130 nights a year?
The amount of time you spend with your children can drop your assessment liability if your case is registered with the child support agency…… as in you’re told by child support to pay your ex X amount per month (either directly to her or though the agency). I don’t believe the home in which she lives is considered in the assessment although that question is best directed to child support agency to be sure.
Even if you ex earns more then you, you’d have to pay (in most cases) however that amount would vary depending on contact, the difference in income amounts etc.
As an example my mum and step father shared contact of my siblings. My step father stayed home (pension from
Government as only payment) while my mum works. He has half holidays and every second weekend. Mum (with majority of care) earns about $45,000- $50,000 and has to pay my stepfather. However, when both mum and him were not working (so incomes almost the same) he had to pay my mum around $30 a month, even with the same care arrangements 🤷🏻♀️
Child support is complex (at the best of times). There are some fantastic facebook groups that you could join that might be able to give you more accurate answers as well ❤️
You can get child support assessment without going through the courts. You should do it, it works best for both of you. You can still put it as private collect so they use tax assessments and info given about care percentages, to calculate the weekly amount, but they assume it's being paid privately, no cost.
Nope, doesn’t change it and Child support doesn’t usually go through courts in Australia. It’s the child support agency that handles it all.