You really should speak to one. If it's going to be really ugly, find out who the top 10 or 20 are and have a free consultation with each of them. That way they can't represent your ex.

Depends on if you and the ex can settle it on your own and be fair about things. If not, then contact one.

I'm not a lawyer but I went through this experience so I hope I can help out a little. The answer depends upon how amicable both of you are. If you can work it out on your own - or through a mediator, you're much better off.

Most states have worksheets that calculate child support, which you can download online for free. These are used by the courts and will give you roughly same results that a judge would. Complete the form yourself and see where you stand. If both parties agree on the outcome, you just saved yourself some hassle and expense.

If absolutely necessary, Lawyers will navigate you through the legal system. In my case, the lawyers couldn't resolve anything, and didn't want to go to court, so they referred us to a mediator. I spent over $8,000 in lawyer fees over a 3 month period. The mediator resolved everything in under 4 hours, and was much more affordable.

It seems to me that the laws regarding child support are unfair for the men. The lazy fat women who live off their ex husbands need to get off their stank asses and get a job. Stop living off your ex. G. is a prime example of why men should not have children with gold diggers. She doesn't even let the father see his kids, but yet we have to pay $1500 a month. G. doesn't work, never graduated high school has 4 kids now and sits around all day long trying to find ways to ruin her ex husbands life. Can you imagine how her new husband feels? Knowing that she is still in love with her ex. We have gone to court over and over and my husband gets slammed everytime by the backward ass california court system. How do those people expect my husband to live in san diego on 400 a week? We want to move out of the state, but we are scared that he will still have to pay $1500 a month even if he makes less. What are we supposed to do?

Almost homeless in san diego

My daughter turns 18 on October 10, 2008, and plans to move out from living with her father. Iowa Child Support Enforcement Agency is currently collecting past due child support from him. Iowa law states that if the situation is serious, Ashley can still qualify for her dad to keep paying child support after she turns 18 and through her college years. She is in Huber Heights, Montgomery County, Ohio. She will be living with friends, attending CTC nursing classes, high school classes, and working. She says it is too much for her to keep up with school and be required to work. He has made her work and takes whatever amount of her money he wants. I want her to have the only access to her money and his name taken off the account. When she finishes high school in 2009, she has a scholarship to Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I feel her dad should continue to pay support to help her through school, since he's saying now if she needs help he will not help her. How do I go about doing this legally?

I just got court papers to go in front of a magistrate for child support. Do they decide the amount I am to pay? I already have two children that live with me and we are already having a hard time living in this day and age. How can I get them to see how hard it is for me to support my other childern? Also, can they make me pay for insurance if I do not have it myself?

Are you supposed to be using last names on here and slandering peoples names?

You don't need one

it can be settled without it... as long as the two parties are in agreement and can figure out btwn themselves.

otherwise... you need a lawyer

I went to court without a lawyer. . . because the three lawyers I talked to told me I could handle it no problem. Well, I don't think my child go what he should. The ordered support is $67 a week, father carries health insurance, after I pay $250 in a calender yr he pays 61.7% of all medical bills. To me I don't think he is having to pull his share. We were married for 12yrs when he walked out on me and my children. I was a stay at home mom for the most part of our entire marriage. And was at the time he walked out to live with his gf (who was married as well). He didn't leave a dime. I had to borrow money for groceries. . . and everything I needed until I finally found a part time job. I think sometimes the courts just don't make any sense at all.

I feel for the woman who her husband left her and her children, that just happened to me and thank god I was working, you cant trust these men nowadays. You can't lean on your man, you either have to put away some money without him knowing or work because they are good to leave and be selfish. Men just dont understand and dont get it! You just dont leave your family just like that, you are not just hurting the wife but the CHILDREN! it's not their fault, the least you could do is pay child support for abandoning the family, the men just dont get it, pay child support and in time the ex wife will get her___ together and she will be happy with the child support money and she wont bother you, because what goes around comes around.... also, please visit your children... they are not at fault for this type of life ---DIVORCE LIFE! which really sucks! they are not enough devoted men out there to comitt to marriage and family life....

Well,my husband has a childsupport case in Wa.State.He was getting paid 18.00 an hr.So his monthly payment was kind of high.We moved to california almost 5 yrs ago.We contacted the court and file for a income modification.The state send the form he needed to fill out with his current employee and income now he pays less.

My husband was in a similar situation, he did get a lawyer, and it didn't do him a bit of good, other than spending more money that he didn't have...and to boot she didn't even show up for his child support hearing. Bottom line is they are going to get you men for everything you are worth anyways, so don't waste your time. My husband and I have 3 other children, and the courts told him it wasn't their problem, and that he should have waited until his first child was grown up before he had more. And also her mother don't work, so maybe these mediators should make them get off their fat asses and get a damn job. It takes two to make them so why is it the man always gets screwed? Our system sucks! If my husband wasn't working they would make him get a job, or throw him in jail for not paying, or take his drivers license. And also my husband has 100% medical coverage on his daughter, and if her mother decides not to pay her copays, and has them sent to her daughter's father, it is his credit that gets ruined if he don't pay them....OUR SYSTEM SUCKS!