[Jelybn22]

I live in New York - Will the father of my son be able to change his last name? We were never married and he hasn't even asked to see the baby. I wanted him to sign the birth certificate but he refused until paternity was established. The baby is now 6 weeks old and I'm taking the father to court to establish paternity, then I will go for child support and visitation. He says he will be in the baby's life but from what I can see so far, he only cares about the money he will have to give me and not the baby.

The father also pays child support for another child with a different mother. Will that child support affect how much child support I receive for my son? I've been told that the other mother received about 17% and that I will also receive 17%? Is this true?

Thanks

[Duane in Japan]

It mainly depends on how good your lawyer is, i.e. how much you pay him or her. Sounds like the guy will be getting a second job or you will be putting him in jail on a regular basis for not paying child support on time or in full payments. Its inbred to men not to like to pay child support cause some of the money does go for your needs too. That's life. Many woman seek higher support later when the man gets a better job too, the kid grows up and needs more so some men just keep crappy jobs or make money on the side under the table, unclaimed income.

Later in life some woman get back child support when the kid is 20 years old.

[famlee]

In Missouri, the father and mother is given the opportunity to sign the papers and change the last name when the father is added to the birth certificate. Both parents have to sign to do this. If the mother is opposed to a name change, the father can ask the judge to grant this. It will then be up to the judge. The judge could deny it, order it, or order the name to be hyphenated(with both last names).

How is the amount of support decided?
The court uses a standard guideline to calculate what the non-custodial parent will pay, based on the non-custodial parent's adjusted gross income and on the number of children involved. The court first determines the non-custodial parent's gross income, and then makes certain deductions (including Medicare, Social Security, and New York City or Yonkers tax) to establish the non-custodial parent's adjusted gross income. The court then multiplies the adjusted gross income by the standard guideline percentage for the number of children. These percentages are as follows:

17% for one child
25% for two children
29% for three children
31% for four children
At least 35% for five or more children.

Then the non-custodial parent's share of child care, medical, and educational expenses is added to the income percentage amount. The combined amount, percentage of income plus share of expenses, is the basic child support amount.

For incomes over $80,000, the court determines whether to use the percentage guidelines and may consider other factors in setting the full child support payment.

https://newyorkchildsupport.com/cust...t_info.html#4A

[famlee]

It mainly depends on how good your lawyer is, ie, how much you pay him or her. Sounds like the guy will be getting a second job or you will be putting him in jail on a regular basis for not paying child support on time or in full payments. Its inbred to men not to like to pay child support cause some of the money does go for your needs too. Thats life. Many woman seek higher support later when the man gets a better job too, the kid grows up and needs more so some men just keep crappy jobs or make money on the side under the table, unclaimed income.

Later in life some woman get back child support when the kid is 20 years old.

The lawyers do not set child support.