Is It Reasonable to Negotiate the Alimony of the Children During a Divorce?

A divorce can be a complicated and confusing time. Navigating the legal proceedings, dealing with the emotional turmoil and determining what is in the best interest of the children can be overwhelming. And then there’s the alimony of the children, also known as child support. A child support agreement sets forth how the parents will allocate assets in order to care for the children during the divorce.

Should the Parents Negotiate the Alimony of the Children? 

A child support agreement sets forth how the parents will allocate assets in order to care for the children during the divorce.

The judge ultimately makes the final decision regarding the provisions of a child support agreement, however if the parents are able to come to a reasonable agreement, the judge will usually accept that agreement as long as it meets the best interest of the children standard.

Negotiating the alimony of the children outside the courtroom will save time and litigation costs. A child support agreement determines the financial responsibility of each parent, including the children’s healthcare expenses.

How is Child Support Determined?

The alimony of the children is typically determined based on the income and assets of the parents as well as how much time the children will spend with each parent.

For example, if the custody agreement states that the mother will have custody of the children from Monday to Friday and the father will have custody on Saturday & Sunday, the amount of child support paid should be inversely proportional to the custody. Income and assets also play role in drafting a child support agreement.

If the mother’s income is double that of the father’s, then the mother should be responsible for paying double the child support. Considering parental income and child custody offers a reasonable approach to drafting a child support agreement.