Author Topic: Interest and modification... FINALLY!  (Read 4835 times)

ksmom3

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Interest and modification... FINALLY!
« on: March 24, 2013, 08:41:26 AM »
I just used the Bradley Software to calculate interest on my child support arrears!  Judge awarded it!  Just still surprised that it couldn't have been done an easier way but it's completed and the program worked great.

Question:  I am finally going to be able to do my first modification for child support in 10 years, he finally got a job.  I have an hourly wage but also get a bonus monthly.  That bonus varies and sometimes not one at all.  How do I calculate my income?  Do I have to include the bonus?

Also, for the extraordinary expenses in regards to extra activities.  My son plays tackle football every year which is costly and competitive baseball and other activities.  How would I calculate that?   Do I figure the average cost yearly divide by the 2 of us and divide by 12 for his monthly portion? 

Thanks in advance!

Guru

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Re: Interest and modification... FINALLY!
« Reply #1 on: March 31, 2013, 08:43:57 PM »
Bonuses are included in income if they are received regularly.  I'm thinking the judge would simply average the previous 12 months of bonuses and average that to a monthly figure.  I've seen it done a bunch of different ways, but I think the annual average is probably the most fair to everyone.  Keep in mind your income won't really make much difference - it's pretty much based on the father's income.

The new extraordinary expenses section of the guidelines was really implemented for things which are outside the norm for a typical family.  Competitive sports are very common and so is the travel.  If you'd like to ask the judge for it, the method you have proposed is exactly how I would do it.  There's really no way to argue that method isn't fair to both parties.  But, it could be argued that those expenses are already included in the basic child support amount.