Children have an inherent right to be supported by both of their parents. While one parent will have a majority of custody time with a child, the other parents must still support the child financially.
The ex-wife of former NBA player Allen Iverson is requesting that Iverson be ordered to pay 13 years of child support payments in a lump sum, totaling $1.2 million. The couple has five children together and Iverson has been ordered to pay $8,000 per month in child support. Iverson's ex-wife recently alleged that he is $40,000 behind in those payments, prompting this request. Iverson paid $3 million to settle the couple's divorce a few years ago and his ex-wife was awarded custody of all of their children. The judge in that case felt that Iverson had no idea how to be, and little interest in being, a father to his children in addition to having a severe alcohol problem that created unsafe situations for the children.
Child support is payment from the income of the non-custodial parent in the event of a divorce to ensure that both parents support a child. The non-custodial parent is considered to be the parent with whom a child does not live with the majority of the time. Typically, the amount of child support to be paid is based on specific guidelines determined by the state and takes into account the income of the non-custodial parent and the number of child to be supported.
The State of Georgia, however, has now adopted a shared income method for determining child support amounts. This approach still applies a rate table, but rather than factoring in only the non-custodial parent's income, it instead considers the incomes of both parents, as well as other associated costs such as daycare and health insurance. Although this method is more complex to determine the amount, it accounts for more relevant information.
The payment of child support provides a mechanism for both parents, custodial and non-custodial, to support a child financially. Parents that are divorcing can seek the guidance of an experienced family law attorney to advise them on matters concerning child support and their rights and responsibilities in any arrangement.
Source: The Inquisitr, "Allen Iverson's Ex-Wife Wants $1.2 Million Worth Of Child Support," Aug. 31, 2013