Messages

Thanks for the advice.  No money is passing hands at this time.  We are still together and going to attempt counseling.....but don't see a whole lot coming out of it.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a good attorney in the West Chester, OH area?

Hey all,
  I had a pretty good run for a second marriage....but it looks like the sun might be setting on this one.  Married since 2001, three kids ages 10,9,6.  No real parenting issues on either side.  I assume she'll agree to some level of shared custoday.....but will probably fight hard to be the residential parent.  A couple of quick questions since I've been out of this world for a while.
Child support - In ohio, do they run this pretty much by the numbers?  Looking up a child support calculator online looks like I'd be paying roughly 1,500 per month (I make around 140K she makes around 62K).  Is that a ballpark figure?
Spousal support - Again in Ohio, looking for anyone experience in similar situations/cases.  My wife is a fulltimme teacher, and has a Master's degree (I only have a BA).  She didn't make any sacrifices during the marriage that negatively impacted her career.  Will the judge award some level of SS simply because of the disparity in our incomes?
Thanks for all responses

Thanks for the reply.  The 24 year old already played this game pretty well.  Her mother pretty much paid the majority of ther college expenses.  She choose a 20K a year private school......because that is where her boyfriend was going.  I helped out with some of the tuition, bought here a computer, paid for all of her books and fees, and of course(stupidly) cosigned a 15K student loan....which with interest accumilating is now 17K.

The 18 year old is much more responsible and her expectations are more in line with reality.  She has a mild case of CP which makes it more difficult for her to really "pay her own way", but she does understand the money is tight all the way around.  I have told her that if her mother does try to "stick me" with the whole bill that I could only afford to send her to a community college for the first two years.  After those two year, I may be able to provide more money, because my daycare expenses will go down as my younger kids start going to school fulltime.

However, my ex is actively avoiding me....which at face value is fine with me....but in the past this has always been a flag for pending legal action.  I checked and my case still shows as closed.....but I've just got that feeling that she's up to something.  We have nothing written in our divorce decree that states that either of us is responsible for college costs......so I was just curious if there was any kind of recent precedent that would allow her to come back at me to pay more than I felt I could afford to pay.  Thanks for taking the time to read.

Mike

It's been a while.  I hope everyone has been doing well.  Quick update.  My two oldest kids from my first marriage are now 24 and 18.  The 24 year old has got some issues regarding independent life skills.....i.e. Mom still pays for the car, I pay for car insurance, and it appears that she's going to stick me with a 17K student loan that I cosigned for her.  LOL...oddly enough that isn't the problem.  Well it is a problem...but a known one.

TThe issue at hand.....my 18 year old is getting ready to hit college, and my ex is going ballistic about splitting college expenses 50/50.  Her and her new husband pull in about 500K a year....I can not boast nearly the same robust bottom line, plus I've got three additional children with my new wife.  My day care expenses per year are almost 14K per year.  I can't afford to split college expenses 50/50.  The last time I checked there was nothing that said that parents were "responsible" for paying for college costs?  Is that still the case?  Don't get me wrong, I intend to help out, but I just can't go toe to toe with my ex when it comes to spending money.  This is in Ohio by the way.

Good to "see" you again.  Sorry that you are going through this again.  I'll give a better response later tonight.  I just wanted to drop you a line to say Hi.