Question:
My ex-wife is the custodial parent of our son and lives with both of her parents, a sibling and a boyfriend. Can the gross income of her “housemates” be taken into consideration as income of the household when calculating child support?
Answer:
I am not licensed to practice law in your state. Therefore, I cannot inform you as to the specific laws of your state and can only provide you with general information concerning child support.
In most states, child support does not take into consideration where the custodial parent chooses to live and how those choices impact their financial circumstances. Child support is about determining what percentage of the child’s support should come from each parent.
If you would like the court to look at where/how the custodial parent is living, it would have to be on grounds of whether or not those living circumstances are in the best interests of the child. If the living situation was not in the best interests of the child, then the court may consider changing the custody of the child, which would then alter the child support.
No, child support will not take into consideration the incomes of the other people living in the household with the custodial parent.
Remember, I am unable to provide you with anything more than general child support tips, so please consult a domestic litigation attorney in your area to obtain specific advice as to the laws in your state and how they impact your circumstances.
To arrange an initial consultation to discuss divorce rights for men with a Cordell & Cordell attorney, including Utah divorce lawyer Dena L. Morgan, contact Cordell & Cordell.
