The best way to avoid child support is to both earn roughly the same income and to ask for a 50/50 custody split. If one party bears most of the childrearing efforts it's not fair for them to also bear all the monetary expenditures (unless they earn significantly more than the non-custodial parent). But agreeing to mediation instead of going to court means you might both have the better chance to get what (you say) you want. Of course mediators are always on the lookout for custodial parents being browbeaten by non-custodial parents over this issue.
IF you both agree, you have a lawyer write up your divorce petition to state: "child support will be paid based on the guidelines".. and then you and your ex go about your lives. Neither of you can be forced to take money you don't want or need.
The ONLY reason courts get involved in divorce/custody/support issues is when a couple cannot come to an agreement on their own. My ex and I agreed on a child support amount that was much lower than what the courts would have ordered. We based the amount on how much it ACTUALLY cost to cover my son's basic needs, not on my ex's income. The divorce petition said something different, but because WE AGREED on doing something different, there was never any reason for the court document to have to enter into it.
THAT SAID... any custodial parent who refuses to accept child support is a moron who is NOT looking out for the best interests of the child. Good and decent parents WANT to contribute to financially supporting their children. Refusing to allow the other parent to meet their legal obligation is counter-intuitive.
From what I can tell, it's only mandatory if it's court ordered, which it won't be. "Legally speaking, if you do not have a court order, you are not mandated to make child support payments. ... In other words, there is no legal obligation for a parent to pay child support without an order to do so."
Answers & Comments
pay the child support, then give it back. Easy as pie
The best way to avoid child support is to both earn roughly the same income and to ask for a 50/50 custody split. If one party bears most of the childrearing efforts it's not fair for them to also bear all the monetary expenditures (unless they earn significantly more than the non-custodial parent). But agreeing to mediation instead of going to court means you might both have the better chance to get what (you say) you want. Of course mediators are always on the lookout for custodial parents being browbeaten by non-custodial parents over this issue.
IF you both agree, you have a lawyer write up your divorce petition to state: "child support will be paid based on the guidelines".. and then you and your ex go about your lives. Neither of you can be forced to take money you don't want or need.
The ONLY reason courts get involved in divorce/custody/support issues is when a couple cannot come to an agreement on their own. My ex and I agreed on a child support amount that was much lower than what the courts would have ordered. We based the amount on how much it ACTUALLY cost to cover my son's basic needs, not on my ex's income. The divorce petition said something different, but because WE AGREED on doing something different, there was never any reason for the court document to have to enter into it.
THAT SAID... any custodial parent who refuses to accept child support is a moron who is NOT looking out for the best interests of the child. Good and decent parents WANT to contribute to financially supporting their children. Refusing to allow the other parent to meet their legal obligation is counter-intuitive.
Your lawyers will advise you as to what to do.
Ultimately, the judge decides what WILL happen, and will assign child support if it is appropriate.
Once you are in court, you no longer make all the decisions. Pay what is assigned, or you could end up in jail.
Put it in the divorce agreement.
The word you show as "hear" is spelled here. I suggest you learn how to spell correctly or use spell check when you write.
From what I can tell, it's only mandatory if it's court ordered, which it won't be. "Legally speaking, if you do not have a court order, you are not mandated to make child support payments. ... In other words, there is no legal obligation for a parent to pay child support without an order to do so."