Problems between separated parents sometimes seem like a never-ending story. When one of the parties refuses to make the corresponding child support payments, they can get into major trouble with the law.
Sometimes, to avoid such inconveniences, they go to unnecessary extremes, such as the thousands of cases where parents leave 80,000 cents as child support payments. These thousands of pennies left in the backyard of their children’s homes are very common cases in different states.
Father paid 80,000 pennies for his children’s support
Although it seems a strange situation and may cause a bit of resentment in those involved, many parents have decided to collect 80,000 pennies and leave them at the door of their children’s homes. There are many stories told where this situation is the protagonist.
To show that he was unhappy with his child support payments, a Virginia resident decided to leave 80,000 pennies in front of his daughter’s home, indicating that it was his final payment.
The events took place when the girl was 18 years old, and during the situation, the young woman took the pennies and donated them to the neediest families in the state. After witnessing an uncomfortable situation where the father needed a trailer to leave “his last payment,” the young woman decided to give him a lesson that he will remember all his life.
The situation caused outrage in the young woman’s mother, which embarrassed her and her two children, who witnessed the unpleasant event. The father paid a monthly total of $800 for the support of his daughters.
It is important to note that the 80,000 cents add up to his total monthly payment, which he indicated before withdrawing that it would be the last they would receive from him.
Importance of Having and Enforcing a Child Support Agreement
When parents decide to separate, it is paramount to consider child support. The parent who will spend the least time with the child is responsible for providing the money necessary for the child’s basic needs every month.
The agreement should not be viewed as an obligation that you are constantly trying to get out of; first, the welfare of the children should be paramount. There are different ways to approach the amount of child support.
Some parents decide to do it privately; that is, they determine what each one will contribute to avoid inconvenience and adjust to their child’s needs at different stages of growth.
However, not all of them can reach these agreements and require help from the public authorities for the decision. In these cases, it is essential to understand how the calculations are made and where the funds are directed.
How is child support calculated?
In front of a court, the prosecutor asks you to provide documents of all monthly income earned. Whether it is earned from a job, self-employment, or benefits received.
Generally, if the parent responsible for child support earns less than $7,500 a month, they must pay 20% of their salary if they have one child, 25% if there are two children, 30% if there are three children, and if there are more, the court will make the necessary calculations.
When the earnings are higher, there are other ways to calculate maintenance. Everything will be linked to the needs and lifestyle of the child, and can never lower the style offered to the child from an early age.
As for the distribution of the money, the total should be sufficient to cover the child’s food, clothing, education, health, and recreation expenses. Any additional costs arising during the month must be notified, and the court will be responsible for taking appropriate action.
What happens if you stop paying child support?
Each state’s laws are prepared for parents who decide not to pay child support. If the arrears are not justified promptly, they can have their wages withheld and, in extreme cases, may have to pay a jail sentence.
It is not an option to stop paying because you do not agree with the amounts. If the parent responsible for child support is experiencing financial problems, they should promptly notify the courts to assess the exemptions available to them.
It may be due to unemployment or some illness or disability that prevents the monthly payments from being completed. In such cases, we will review the salaries of both parties and stipulate the amount each party must contribute to support the child.