There are so many factors that go in to how much is payed for child support that you never know what it will be until the end. First off, how many children are we talking about? Are you looking to get joint custody? Are you talking about 50% of you yearly income!?! This seems very high, but unfortunately it is not unheard of. There will most likely be a “financial disclosure statement” involved, and most states have a rather complex calculation that they use to determine suitable child support. And a figure as high as %50 is rare, but don’t put all your faith in that.

There are two routes that you can look into. If you don’t have a divorce attorney, then get one. If you can’t afford one then at least schedule a consultation to find out the likelihood that what her lawyer is asking for will go through. Be careful! The divorce attorney may bait you into hiring them once they pick up on your dire situation. When talking to a divorce attorney always exude confidence so that they know that you are just looking for some legal advice and not some “savior” to solve all your problems.

If you are still not content then you should really put in some of your own research. I suggest you seriously consider getting the package offered by Dr. Barry Bricklin and Dr. Gail Elliot, they are two of the foremost experts in the field of child custody. They will offer you so much information, you will likely be giving your lawyer the advice. You can take a look at it here. I have read through most of it just out a curiosity’s sake (luckily I did not have custody issues during my divorce), and it is good stuff.

Keep us updated on your situation, I am sure there are a lot of men out here that are going through the same situation and we can all learn from each other.

Chris

(Disclaimer: Remember, I am not a divorce attorney and any information and/or opinions that I provide should not be construed as legal advice.)