Child support? AUSTRALIA?

Question

I am not with my sons father, He lives in QLD and i live in SA. We did a child support estimate for the new financial year on the CSA website. and it said he would have to pay $650 a month (or there abouts) But he says he doesn't have to pay that much because he doesn't see our son and we live in a different state, he says he will only be paying more like $160 a month (it used to be $155 and he's earning at least $30.000 more). Can someone please explain to me how it works if we live in a different state? As far as i know he doesn't pay to see his child, he pays to help with raising him and so he doesn't go without.

Answer 1

As an Aussie too, I can tell you for a fact that child support is NOT lowered because he does not see the child. If anything it goes up because you have the child full time, with all the costs and care that involves.

Do not accept this line from him, and do not accept less than the courts awarded to YOUR SON.

If he had parcial custody and physically had the care of him for some of each week that would lower the amount.

Answer 2

The frequency that he sees his child is up to him, and if he sees his child only one time a year, that is his decision. He will still have to support him, regardless where he or you live.

Answer 3

This is true in many cases, however you need to seek legal advice from someone familiar in your area. This may not be the case in your situation. Legally the child has the right to both parents, this is what courts are to focus on. The child not the mom or dads rights the child first. Please check your local laws as I am only sure of the law in my area, and they can have some differences in the interpretation from one area to the other and even from one judge to the other.  

Answer 4

Child support and visitation rights are two different things.  There are millions of Fathers who don't live in the same state their children live in, but arrangements can be made for visitation.  The father can travel to where the son is and get a hotel room for a few days and visit with his son.  Or he can go pick up his son and take him home with him a few days.  But the child support is based on the income of the father and it doesn't matter if he lives in a different state.