In many divorces, alimony and child support create the most anxiety for couples about to begin negotiating a settlement, but in reality they are often the easiest issues to resolve. Expectations or fears about alimony are usually unrealistic, and the minimum amounts required for child support are quite specific and easy to calculate for most families. We will also explain the role of the child support guidelines provided by every state, and how you can make your own decisions in mediation about child support. The word alimony describes support payments made by one ex-spouse to the other. In some states this is called maintenance or spousal support.
Few states have legal guidelines about alimony.
Spousal support is also sometimes provided for a specific period of time so that a parent can stay home to care for a very young child. Unlike alimony, each state does have guidelines which describe what child support must include. In this section, we answer several questions about how child support payments are calculated. Your own agreement may vary from the guidelines in your state, but only in rare circumstances is it permissible for the total amount spent on your child to be lower than the guidelines' minimum. If there is very little money or income, child support will be considered first.