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Hello - new to all this, but I am hoping I can get a couple of thoughts on two items.

My STBX and I are just beginning the mediation process (papers not filed yet), and I just have some initial questions that I hope someone can provide some thoughts on:

Child Support - we have basically agreed to a joint parenting plan with as close to 50/50 as possible - 2 children 9 & 12. I have on my own completed the CT child support formula (with a third party pretty much verifying my numbers look 'right'), but my question is how substantial will the deviation be from the state formula if we are going to have 50/50 vs "primary custodial care" and "non-primary custodial care". Will there be a deviation? Is this something that then is mediated? Any help here would be appreciated.

Spousal Support - Any thoughts on spousal support? We have been married for 15 years, and my wife has been gainfully employed for the entire time we have been married. Compensation is 70K for her, 111K for me. She has her undergraduate degree as well as a Masters (obtained prior to our marriage). Would there be an expectation of spousal support in general given her education, employement, etc?

I know this isn't alot to work with, but any thoughts someone might have on these two items would be extremely appreciated.

Thank you!

"Will there be a deviation?"
Does either of you NEED child support? It's not mandatory, although judges typically like to see at least some nominal amount (e.g. $50/month). What number do you and your stbx want to agree on?

"Would there be an expectation of spousal support in general given her education, employement, etc?"
Not sure about CT, but in a lot of places (but not all), alimony is almost exclusively rehabilitative. If she has been in the work force the entire time, she wouldn't really have any claim on alimony. Try reading here: http://www.divorcenet.com/states/connecticut/alimony

Hi BF! Thank you so much for your response! I appreciate it.

Regarding child support, in the state we are in, it is basically a formula that looks at gross income, less deductions to get to a net income line for each of us, which is then combined. The combined net income then determines how much the basic child support obligation is based on a chart put out by the state. This basic obligation is then multiplied by the percentage of each parents shared income. So, assume the chart says the combined child support obligation is 500/week, and she makes 40% of the combined income and I make 60% of the income - then her obligation is 200 and mine is 300. This is then where I get lost...

My question is, will these numbers change ($200 for her / $300 for me) since we have agreed to a 50/50 parenting arrangment. I ask this, and I didn't make it clear in my original post, because the state appears to assume one custodial parent and one non-custodial parent. I don't think this is a matter that me and the STBX can agree on since this is so formula driven, or maybe I am missing something?

Thanks again very much for thoughts and comments.

The guidelines are just guidelines. Use the formula to come up with a ballpark, but if the two of you can agree on a different amount, you can use that. I don't want to interpret the CT guidelines (and I don't really have time at the moment), but don't feel like you can't deviate from it. I would guess, based on your numbers, that you would pay your stbx $50/wk (each of you has half the time, and if you gave her $50/wk, each of you would, in theory, have half the money available to spend).