Divorce Support Forums: Wife's asking for the impossible

My wife and I had our 10th anniversary earlier this year. We have two children (4 & 6). She's a SAHM, doesn't work, hasn't since 1999.

She is asking for $1200 in child support per child. From what I can ascertain from CS calculators, I would be ordered to pay between $1500-$1600 total as this is around 25% of my take-home pay. The children do not have any special or extraordinary needs.

> You'll pay CS based on state guidelines .

While I do not want to deprive my children of anything, what she is asking for would create an undue hardship on me. Also, she is demanding spousal support in the amount of 15% of my take-home pay. What she's asking for (CS + spousal) would constitute over 50% of my take-home pay. I think it's insane...she stated that her lawyer told her that she would be able to get this much.

> Maintenance is limited to 36 months unless the spouse requesting SS is unable to be self supporting due to disability or family considerations .

Is this true? Is her lawyer privvy to some nugget of information not widely available to the public?

>Her lawyer can say anything he wishes .

Also, is it true that there is a cap on the income that can be assessed for child support? I think I heard somewhere that they can only take a percentage of the first $6,000 net per month.

> The guideline percentage only applies to the first $6,000/month any additional support over that amount can be at a greater or lesser percentage .

Also, if that's true, would that also apply to spousal support?

> No. The max maintenance award is $2,500/month or 20 percent of the spouse's average monthly gross
income.

I read somewhere that judges don't look kindly on giving spousal support to spouses that refuse to work because nobody is "owed" a living. Is this true? I thought the point of spousal support was to re-train to re-enter the job market. She doesn't need to be re-trained in order to earn a living. Can she still demand and get spousal support from me just because she's lazy?

> True.

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Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. Isaac Asimov

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