Consider the Cost of Child Custody in Baton Rouge Louisiana
When it comes to a divorce, child custody is one of the most difficult problems that Baton Rouge faces today. Trying to decide what is best for the children involved is a responsibility many have lost countless nights of sleep over. The costs, financially, emotionally, and in time, consumes the parents, children, and the state governments trying to untangle the mess of a broken marriage.
So, why is it that some in the United States has so many problems with such a natural event as raising children? There are many reasons, but probably the overwhelming factor for contributing to problems with child custody is maturity. Merriam Webster defines maturity as attaining a final or desired state. When it comes to raising and taking care of children, a desired state should mean taking on all responsibilities that go along with attaining the goal of raising children to the legal age of adulthood. Being able to do so requires you recognize and devote yourselves to the resources at hand that will help you attain the goal. Some of the basic resources necessary to raise children include a source of income, a nurturing and positive environment, adequate shelter, preparation for the future, good healthcare, and an adequate diet. In a nutshell, raising children requires you to be responsible at working hard to provide the basic resources for your children. Both you and your spouse should be in sync, dedicated, determined, and focused on your goals if you expect to be successful in raising healthy children.
When a marriage becomes irretrievably broken, as a spouse, what does your mature responsibility then become to your children? In Louisiana, if a friendly and formally signed agreement between the spouses concerning basic resources for the children has not been made, the Judicial District Court in the jurisdiction of the local Parish may decide what is ultimately best for the children. If either or both of you are capable parents, one of you may be chosen as the primary physical care taker of the children, called the custodial caretaker. The one of you not chosen as the custodial caretaker will then be referred to as the non-custodial caretaker. Regardless of how you are now referred to by the courts, neither of you loses the responsibility of raising your children to a healthy adulthood. Because the primary custodial caretaker keeps the children most of the time, their resources, like income, will be depleted faster than the non-custodial caretaker’s. Therefore, it stands to reason, if you are the non-custodial caretaker, you may be ordered to contribute toward your child’s resources through what the courts call child support.
In Louisiana, child support is based on the Income Shares Model for calculating child support. The monthly support amount determined by applying the guidelines is divided proportionally according to each parent’s income. These two support amounts are then offset to establish which parent will pay the other parent for support of the child. All income is typically verified by examining past W-2′s and child support worksheets are normally available at the courthouse. Ideally, the amounts chosen are not intended to break either side, but to maintain the level of resources that best supports the general welfare of the children involved.
Maybe you have found yourself in the predicament of divorcing with children, and you are not sure what is fair and what is not fair when it comes to your children. If you and your spouse cannot amiably agree on a legal solution, you may need legal counsel from a professional who is trained to help you in your situation. Do the mature thing and contact us right now, and we will put you in touch with a divorce lawyer in your area that can help you on legal matters concerning child custody and support.
Hi,
I got married to my spouse on 10/17/2009. We had a child together prior to our marriage. I have been living apart from her since 3/17/2010 when se kicked me out of her parents which we were staying. Our reasons for staying with them were to save for a house. She physically abused me, as well as neglected our family almost a complete 2 months prior to this last even which she got physically abusive with me while driving down Airline High way @ 60 mph.
I stayed awayed for 2 days until the situation calmed down, but I cont. to visit and stop by her parents house constantly trying to seek counsel together. I spoke with her father countless times as well as mother countless times trying to get her to agree to go to couseling. I went regardless of the fact that she did not. I reached out to her countless times trying to go to counseling over a 2 month span until I finally came to the conslusion that she did not want to work things out.
Regarding my daughter, she is 3, I spend EVERYDAY with her. I picked her up from school around 2 m and drop her off to her mom between 7 – 8pm. She hates leaving me but understands that it is what must be done. I have her EVERY weekend the whole time. I bring her to church, I teacher he many morals and values that her mom lacks and does not teach or respect. I provide half of her day care which is 160 per week. We rotate paying it and I have never had or never will have to borrow to pay it. I work for the EBR school board. I have no criminal record and I can provide a better living enviroment that her mom can.
Her mom suffered from breast cancer and has not taking the steps to get any type of counseling that the DR. recommended. She does drugs and drinks while under the heavy medications that prescribed to her. She verbally abuses both of her children. ( She has a son whom is 11 years old).
When I met her and her son, he was making all F’s conduct as well as grades. I have had such a positive influence on him that he now does VERY well in school and very seldom has any conduct problems at school.
I really fear his mom destorying my daughter’s future with her bad habits and way of living. I need help and I want to get full custody of my daughter, or atleast appointed the custodial caretaker role. I have another daughter that I spend just as much as time with, but her mom is much more responsible and can testify to me being responsible when it comes to taking of my daughters. PLEASE HELP!
PLEASE excuse the typos etc..
Filling out the form to talk to a divorce attorney near you is a good start. I hope that your situation works out in a way that is best for you and your children. An attorney should be in touch with you by the end of the week to discuss your situation and map out a plan to fit your situation. Keep in touch and let us know how it turns out.