Options to stop paying child support?

Questioner

Together with my ex-partner I have two biological children (5 and 3 years old) and she has a previous child (12 years old) from a previous relationship. For years (10+ years) I have lovingly cared for this previous child and when my own children were born I have always taken my responsibilities. I have now been separated from my ex-partner for about 1.5 years. We have established co-parenting in a parenting plan. The children are with my ex-partner four days a week and with me for 3 consecutive days. Even at the time of our breakup, the division of care was more or less equal. I have always looked after all the children, both financially and emotionally. The children are registered at my ex-partner's address. I have acknowledged my children and we have joint legal authority. I work full-time and my ex-partner does not work. My ex-partner also has no intention of working but rather enjoys benefits. In addition to benefits, she receives all kinds of allowances/discounts and earns quite a bit from this. I don't think it's fair that despite us having co-parenting and the days being divided almost equally, I still have to pay a considerable amount every month. I have no problem at all spending my hard-earned money on my children, I do that with all my love. However, I don't think it's fair that, in addition to my own fixed costs and the money I already spend on my children, I am now also financially disadvantaged because my ex-partner doesn't work. I am prepared to work less, even if I would receive less income as a result. This would allow me to have the children with me more often so that the division of care is completely equal or so that the children are with me more than with my ex-partner. I am also prepared to register both or one of my biological children at my address.

Lawyer

Simply stopping payments is not a good idea. It seems that it is important to evaluate your agreements together and adjust them to the current situation. You now have a different view of the division of care and costs and you have questions for each other, for example why your ex is not (yet) working. The registration of the children could also be different. You may even lose money if all the children are registered with your ex. If you can't talk about this on your own, you can consider mediation. A mediator can guide your conversation and ensure that everything is discussed properly. A mediator can also draw up the (adjusted) parenting plan and (re)calculate the alimony. Please feel free to contact me for more information about mediation.