| > | | | | important because so many factors can be modified |
| Divorce is a messy business. A relationship is like an | | | | or altered over a short period following the divorce, |
| organism, growing and requiring constant care. And | | | | such as change in employment, residence, or marital |
| divorce pretty much kills it. Possessions are divided | | | | status. |
| between partners. But since a child can’t be | | | | The primary standard that the court uses to determine |
| divided, so one parent takes him while the other | | | | a custody case is always, "what is in the best interests |
| contributes through paychecks. And for calculating | | | | of the child." The court has to determine many factors |
| one’s liability, a system has been devised. | | | | when it makes this decision. |
| Internet offers a lot of such free softwares that are | | | | Some of the factors that are considered when the |
| called child support calculators. They give a rough idea | | | | court makes a custody determination are: |
| as to calculate the liability towards the child, monetarily | | | | (1) emotional and physical environment |
| speaking. | | | | (2) the personal safety of the child |
| In the United States, different states have different | | | | (3) moral atmosphere of the household |
| child support calculators for liability and they are freely | | | | (4) the mental and physical health of the parents |
| available. This gives a rough base idea. Rest is always | | | | (5) the age of the children |
| case dependent. But the two legal systems - US and | | | | (6) the age of the children |
| Indian - are not same even though the core content | | | | (7) preference of the child |
| may be similar. | | | | (8) the prior behavior of the parents, including any |
| In USA the entire income is well documented and | | | | history of abuse |
| shown in tax returns which is not always true in India | | | | (9) the ability of each parent to care for the child |
| more particularly in joint business families; as also in | | | | (10) the importance of religious upbringing within the |
| case of persons having several sources of income | | | | family. |
| including cash incomes. There are Supreme Court | | | | And it is on the basis of these standards that the |
| judgments as also text books which provide complete | | | | custody payment is also reached to. Per se, divorce is |
| guidance about the other partner’s liability. | | | | not so very common in India that calculators for child |
| In majority of the cases, in India, the mother is favored | | | | support are developed and hence they still are ad hoc. |
| for physical custody of the child, but under special | | | | However, the need for such a standardized child |
| circumstances, like if the mother has to work in nights | | | | support calculator has arisen with rising divorce |
| or is in pursuit of education, then the father may be | | | | cases and hence soon such a calculator will also be |
| granted the physical custody of the child. Also, periodic | | | | evolved. So far, the calculations are case based or |
| evaluations of the parenting plans can be made. This is | | | | mutually agreed upon. |