Child Support II, Child Custody, and Alimony/Spousal Support

Hello from Doctor Dreamer!

I hope that you are having a good weekend, and that you have had the chance to read some of the material that I have published so far. Last time, in Child Support I, I wanted to talk a little more about how my ex makes a lot of decisions based on wanting to get back at me.

My ex had originally promised me not to ask for any child support. My ex also claimed not to want my money. Ironically, since we divorced, this has been of utmost importance to my ex. I had realized that all along, yet I wanted to believe my ex and I wanted to believe the statements made by me ex, as I am an idealistic person. I still wanted to believe in the good in my ex, the same way I always believe in the good in people unless they prove otherwise.

A few years prior to the divorce, my spouse had been planning how much he/she was going to get in alimony and child support. Alimony, a former term for Spousal Support, is the amount of money that a spouse gets from the husband/wife based on the difference in incomes. The term alimony is on its way of disappearing from the court terminology, as it is a term that is associated with the idea that the husband pays the wife, whereas the new term adopted by the court, namely Spousal Support, sends a fairer message in that the amount to be paid may be to either the husband, or the wife, based on the relative income.

It is deplorable, in my mind, that any human being would try to take advantage of his/her spouse under such circumstances. When people get married, I hope that they do not have in mind how much they would collect from their spouse, should they divorce one day!

To me, that is the "Code of Honor"! No one should try to take advantage of anyone else, for this betrays the ideals of a marriage. A dissolution of marriage, a divorce, should not be used as a means of revenge between spouses.

Revenge is sought by means of two main issues: (1) Child Custody, (2) Child Support, and (3) Spousal Support. The term "Child Custody" is now being replaced by the term "Parenting Time". Again, I believe that the new terminology is much milder than the old one, as it gives both parents the comfort that both are "good" parents, whereas the term "Custody" is scarier and carries the inherent connotation that one parent is more worthy than the other, and is ,therefore, awarded "custody" of a child.

I will be talking more about this fascinating, yet sad subject very soon. Until then, I bid you a very good night!

I would like for all my readers to know that they are more than welcome to send me their comments at any time. You can achieve this by clicking on the "comments" entry at the bottom of the page. I hope to read your comments soon.

Dr. Dreamer