Save every receipt as to every thing you pay in the house hold no matter how trivial it seems especially for the kids. Not sure where you are but my son and his ex had a no child support agreement since they gave equal time. I called child support because at the time it was just a verbal agreement that's what they told us to do until we went to court and got it on paper so having those receipts for provisions for the child and even mom when my son bought things she needed, the ex couldn't get him for back child support from the time of separation until a court agreement was reached cyoa cover your own ass she's keeping the receipts from what you stand cuz he's providing things to her helps if she starts trying to get alimony. Most women will say that you left them high and dry that way you can prove you did not. Tried to give this advice to a friend of mine he didn't listen went on about his life and his child was living with him but it wasn't on papers legal two years later mom shows up at the door with the police he's never made his custody legal so she got to take the child and got two years back pay child support plus interest out of him. And he has proof that his child has been with him for the last 2 years but the judge said well that's your screw up for not getting it legal. Men 9 times out of 10 will get screwed sideways and backwards if they don't document everuthing. Keep a daily log what you do what she does who is doing what with their money and their time with any luck you will never need it but if you do he will be glad you have it. Judges like when you can go back to pinpoint accuracy and tell them when what who Where and how and most women aren't going to see that coming since we feel like men are cavemen. I have watched to many good guys get screwed by the system because it's still a preconceived notion that the mother is always the better parent. And I know you're not saying she's a bad parents I'm just saying like you said about having a lawyer look over things cyoa

Everything will be put in writing and agreed upon and signed as a legal document. That way nothing can come back and say he did this or she didn't do that. I'm just trying to look out for the best interest of my kids. I prefer to let them stay in school another year and get a few things worked out in their favor rather get in a hurry and have something bad or stupid and not planned out cause it's a hurry up and move . Bad decisions are made in haste and anger. I prefer that not to happen. This has been in the works for a while and she's finally acting upon her decisions from 7 months ago. .

You can Google your "state's name" and "child support calculator" and you will find out what your state considers fair.

Sometimes they deviate off of that (such as with a disabled child) but not much.

If we both live together with the kids under 1 roof is there still child support to be paid?

If you're divorced and under one roof? I thought that would happen to me and it did but only for 11 short days. He kept paying toward some bills because he lived here, but no child support during that time. You never know though. Different states, different circumstances.

And yeah, your wife can't cry that you're not supporting her enough when you do split, it's all in the calculator as to who gets what. Have you done a case information statement yet? It's an intimate accounting of money going in and money going out of the household. Both your marital statement (your lifestyle while married), and one you expect to have once divorced. Doing that statement is eye-opening to say the least, and many financial decisions are based off that statement. Many people choke when doing it.

No we have not done that statement yet. She said she has a appointment this week with her lawyer to go over paperwork from last week. After that they are supposed to have a meeting with me and go over thier proposal.

That will be interesting if we do one of those. I know where all my money goes, now on the other hand I have no clue where or what she does with al her money.

Don’t be surprised if you quickly come to the conclusion that living under one roof is intolerable. Would make sense to start thinking about your options just in case

That's what s in the works as of now. I know all to well how quickly things change. I Think I have a backup plan in place just in case .