Legal Question in Family Law in New Mexico

On the monthly child support obligation form line item which states "childrens health and dental insurance premium" if the spouse that is paying the insurance on the child but has them self along with 2 other children from a previous relation ship on the insurance do they put the total they are paying for the month including the other children and them self or do they divide it by all insured and put the total amount for only the 1 child which is involved in the divorce?


Asked on 9/22/10, 3:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

John Watson John Watson, Attorney at Law

Child support medical health portion can be calculated several different ways and those different ways are dependent upon the employer of the person who has the health insurance. The following examples will demonstrate different methods to apply: (1) Employer offers health insurance at no cost to employee and then charges a premium for either (a) family; or (b) employee +1; or (c) employee +2; or (d) employee +3 or more. (2) Employer offers employee at some set cost then (a) family; or (b) employee +1; or (c) employee +2; or (d) employee +3 or more. (3) Employer offers employee plus family (does not matter how many 'others'). There are many many more examples. But, I hope you get the idea.

Each of these different versions require you to know the cost of the employee insurance plus how ever many dependents there are; then you can begin calculating that actual cost. Some Lawyers will argue different aspects of applying the cost to the employee in the equation and other lawyers will argue against it . . . . depending on the circumstances. In the end if you come up with something that everyone agrees is 'fair' (or that which at least they agree they can live with) then so long as you explain to the hearing officer or the judge how you arrived at the number that you got likely the judge or hearing officer will approve your agreement. The point here, legally, is that the law says to include the cost of the insurance. Depending on your perspective, either for or against, the law (unfortunately) does not say HOW to calculate the cost of the insurance. Thus, the method you propose in your query may end up being the method you all use.

Good Luck

Law Guru

Read more
Answered on 9/27/10, 8:31 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in New Mexico