Child Support and parental responsibilities

[nothing2lose]

I earn more, I have DD for the majority of time and my ex pays for absolutely nothing. Never has, never will. In almost nine years of separation I have received a grand total of $668 child support. That's meant to have covered his share of all her educational, material, medical, etc needs (I just worked out it is one cent every 10 days! Yep, that should cover it )


As Jellyfish said, your ex doesn't have to pay for anything over and above his legal child support obligations which, if he is not working, may be nothing.

[Amity]

I earn more, I have DD for the majority of time and my ex pays for absolutely nothing. Never has, never will. In almost nine years of separation I have received a grand total of $668 child support. That's meant to have covered his share of all her educational, material, medical, etc needs (I just worked out it is one cent every 10 days! Yep, that should cover it )


As Jellyfish said, your ex doesn't have to pay for anything over and above his legal child support obligations which, if he is not working, may be nothing.

Yep.

I work full time and have had my kids (over the years) ranging from 100% to 66%. Note he's never had more than 34%

In the last 3 years I have received $646. In total.

Don't worry that the psychologist costs $160/week ($6400 per year), shoes are $160/term, school fees $1000/year, karate $160/month, soccer $90 term, basketball $180/term, hospital $1000/year, other therapy $500/term, doctor $500/year, medication $500/year, chess $80/term, after school/before school care $X (I don't want to think about it), groceries $(something scary as DS1 is gluten free)... etc etc etc. The boys are grading in karate next week so I'll be up for the costs of their mitts and pads (even though it's on XH's time, I'm expected to fork out the money).

That doesn't include the costs of food, roof over their head, car, day to day clothes, school uniforms, basketball/karate/soccer uniforms etc etc...

We are both working in the same industry, yet somehow I'm the one paying for everything!

So in response to your questions:

How do you and your ex cover those expenses related to your children? I pay. For everything.
Do you rely only or primarily on child support payments. No. Never have, never will. He wasn't regular even when he was paying anything.
Who earns more and who cares more for the children? I earn probably 3x what he does. I care more for the children.