What do you think is a fair child support amount?

If they are paid about 400 a week? before taxes so prob take home is around $350 a week.

300-350 a month I would think

Quoting oh BABY!!{Cabe's Mommy!}:" If they are paid about 400 a week? before taxes so prob take home is around $350 a week."

oh and forgot to add its just one child.

Quoting The Icebox {MBRD}:" 300-350 a month I would think"

 

This. Generally, a quarter of their income is fair imo.

Depends on the income of the parents and how many kids. Usually the state provides guidelines to give people an idea. Try looking around the web for it and I'm sure you'll find one for your state .  

Quoting The Icebox {MBRD}:" 300-350 a month I would think"

Yea i was thinking asking him to pay 250 to 300 would be fair. the only reason its on the shorter side is he is trying to get out of debt and we are currently trying to work things out but I want help financially with LO

280 is 20% so that is fair.

I'd say at least 250/month.

I think it should be based on the cost of caring for the child (daycare, diapers, formula, etc), but just my opinion, everyone's different.

I asked bd to cover half of daycare and I would cover everything else since I make a little more. I thought it was reasonable, he thought it was outrageous. Got into a very heated debate that basically ended in him suggesting that i should have gotten an abortion and because i chose to put myself in this situation so i should have to suffer the consequences financially in addition to caring for her singlehandedly. I ended the conversation right there before I stooped to his level. He pays 1/3 of daycare and nothing else and I'm debating on whether to take it to court but don't want to make things uglier than they are.

Quoting Primmahhhhh:" I think it should be based on the cost of caring for the child (daycare, diapers, formula, etc), but ... [snip!] ... of daycare and nothing else and I'm debating on whether to take it to court but don't want to make things uglier than they are."

I would definitely definitely definitely take that to court, he can pull that at any time.

I would love for Z's dad to pay half of all expenses, but with the daycares I'm looking at, it would put him in a position where he would not be able to support himself, so I stick with our court ordered $250.... when he has a job and pays.

Quoting oh BABY!!{Cabe's Mommy!}:" Yea i was thinking asking him to pay 250 to 300 would be fair. the only reason its on the shorter ... [snip!] ... side is he is trying to get out of debt and we are currently trying to work things out but I want help financially with LO"

If you're going to struggle trying to help him, don't do it. I did that because I felt bad for my ex and I regret it every month.

Quoting Primmahhhhh:" I think it should be based on the cost of caring for the child (daycare, diapers, formula, etc), but ... [snip!] ... of daycare and nothing else and I'm debating on whether to take it to court but don't want to make things uglier than they are."

Take his ass to court, smurf that. Some men are ridiculous

Quoting The Icebox {MBRD}:" If you're going to struggle trying to help him, don't do it. I did that because I felt bad for my ex and I regret it every month."

Right now im not struggling and once he gets back on his feet i want more but right now he is paying nothing so 250 would be better then nothing. Im not ready yet to take it to court i want to try and figure things out between us before i go that far but if its no figured out in 6 months then we will be in court. He just started a job too so that why he wasnt helping before.

Yeah I think I might just have to suck it up and go to court. But here in MA they base it solely on income and healthcare fees, so probably not much better outcome. They don't take into account daycare or living expenses or supplies, so since I make $75/wk more than him I'm screwed. But my rent is twice what his is (even though I'm getting a serious break because I'm renting from family) and bills are triple because I don't have the luxury of having roommates to split the cost so at the end of the month I'm like $250 in debt and he has close to a grand of disposable income. And all the free time in the world to spend it since he's out of state.

But on the plus side, I get to hang out with my daughter and be there for all the good times, and all he gets is an occasional Skype chat and maybe one or two visits a year, so overall i have a better deal   but can't wait until she's in preschool and i can start paying off my credit card and building a savings acct back up!