What is set off support

[plainNamedDad44]

Hi community,

recently got primary care and residence of my D14. part of the order was an adjustment of CS for other 3 children. The new number I put forward and gained in the order was based on the online support calculator with D14 living with me and other three currently living with STBX.

The Justice noticed that I wasn't seeking a 'set off' amount. What is that ? I thought that if I enter all info into online support calculator, it would tell me what support amounts should all be.

Have I missed something ?

[dinkyface]

Set off applies to situations where kids spend about equal time with each parent i.e both within 40-60%. May be called 'Shared' in the calculator. The CS amount = your table CS amount minus her table CS amount.

If the other 3 spend more than 40% time with STBX, and D14 spends more than 40% time with you, then no set off.

[Rioe]

When both parents are payors AND receivers, either because they share the children equally or because of multiple children having different residential schedules, set off support comes into play. It means that each parent pays CS to the other, and only the difference in the two amounts changes hands. The amount you pay her will be set off by the amount she pays you.

She pays you table CS for one child based on her income.

You pay her table CS for three children based on your income.

The net effect is that you pay her the difference between those two amounts.

The judge has apparently noticed that you are not calculating this the way he would expect.

Are you looking up your table CS for three children and your ex's for one child? Maybe the judge expects you to both look up your CS for four children and divide by four or something, so she pays you a quarter of her total CS due and you pay her 3/4 of your CS due and the difference changes hands.