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Lifegoingfoward
Oct 10, 2012, 07:02 PM
I received divorce papers from my wife, which was not surprising. We have 3 kids together. On her complaint she asked for sole physical custody with reasonable child support and joint legal custody with reasonable child support. I do understand the custody part, however "reasonable child support" what does that mean? I take care of my kids financially and many other ways. I buy everything they need/want. Can someone please help with the "reasonable child support" part? Thanks

decarlo123
Oct 10, 2012, 08:14 PM
It sounds like she just means be reasonable when it comes to giving her what she needs for the kid's.

cdad
Oct 11, 2012, 01:26 PM
She wants to put you on a payment plan for supporting the children. That is what child support is.

AK lawyer
Oct 11, 2012, 05:04 PM
she asked for sole physical custody with reasonable child support and joint legal custody with reasonable child support

Looks like a typographical error.

She should have asked for "... sole physical custody with reasonable visitation and joint legal custody with reasonable child support".

A complaint asking for a decree giving you "reasonable" visitation, instead of spelled-out periods of physical custody is simply a way of saving needless work on the part of the lawyer or whoever drafted the complaint. Why should they go to all the work of figuring out a custody schedule if you aren't going to fight it and instead allow yourself to be defaulted? What you should ask for is specific periods of physical custody. If not, when you get to see the children will be at her "reasonable" discretion.

As far as child support is concerned, that is a matter of applying a formula (Each state has one.) which considers such things as each parent's income, and how much time each parent is going to have physical custody.