r/ChildSupport 5d ago

Connecticut Child Support fairness?

Hi,

I am separated almost 4 years (not legally so technically married but not living together). It has taken a long while for dad and I to come to an agreement on child costs. The last two years he’s given me $225 a week for two kids and he makes more than me. This is not thru the courts.

Recently he’s been asking me to let him keep $100 if the kids spend more than 2-3 nights with him. It’s rare that it happens. I have the kids 90-95% of the time. They spend the night once a week but that’s also not every week because his schedule for work constantly changes supposedly. On those weeks, he’ll see them after school or bring them to work half the day.

I have relented on some occasions when he switched his work schedule knowing that I needed him to watch the kids because I was going away for work. Meaning that he originally had worked his schedule so he would be off, but once the date got closer, he no longer has the days off and he needed to call out if I needed him to cover child care. So he then has to take off work using sick days at a lower pay, so I gave him the $100. The request has come again and I am uncomfortable with giving the money back because the costs do not go away just because they spend a few nights consecutively away from home once every few months. He’s been badgering me and calling me ungrateful because he pays for expenses into my home and his. I remind him that he’s not paying for my expenses, he’s paying for support for his kids. He’s also not even covering therapy costs for our kids which I am paying $300 every week or two. The costs are adding up and his passive aggressive remarks are getting to me.

In this situation, should I be giving back funds when he’s asking because he has the kids? I really don’t know. When I bring up therapy costs, he says the kids wouldn’t even be able to go to therapy if they weren’t on his insurance that he pays for. He has state insurance through work and he pays $$50 a month for the kids to be added so I don’t see how this can even compare. I know it’s only $100 here and there but I feel like it’s becoming more and more frequent.

Guidance please for people dealing with similar situations. Is this a normal thing to happen during child support agreements? Thank you!

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u/Mzajoj 4d ago

File. He is taking you for a ride. If the kids primarily live with you- more than 50% of the year- you get to claim them on IRS returns. Especially if they are registered with school with your address. Say nothing. Keep all receipts, medical bills, missed work days, tax returns for past 4yrs showing married filing separately. Keep a spreadsheet of all overnights they have with you. Or a calendar, whatever’s easy. And FILE MAMA. Hurry up and file. See your state dept of social services, and file ASAP. Say nothing to him until he is served the motion so he can’t quit job ahead of time FILE

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u/AGirlInTheCityy 4d ago

Yes I’ve been documenting as advised just in case. I’m not sure i will get child support while technically still married (haven’t really looked into it). I also don’t even want more. Just don’t want him to keep asking for a refund when funds are already allocated for all of the kids needs and activities.

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u/Mzajoj 2d ago

If you file for divorce, it won’t happen straight away. It gets shelved for mediation, available court date, bla bla… could be months. But once separation filed you can apply for CS. Fed tax law overrides state court agreements for who gets child tax credit, if you can prove you are the primary parent more than 50%