Why is it that states are all different when it comes to child support and child custody laws? Im going through it now and it is tearing me apart. The mother of my 3 young children hasn't worked in almost 10 years and I'm fighting the state and county more or less because she is on all the free assistance. Because of that, The county considers her to be dissabled. There for I am looking at loosing all rights I do have right now and her being awarded full custody. I am also looking at $1,200 per month for child support. The county claims I have to support her, my 3 kids with her and her 2 previous kids. Im not a dead beat dad and have always taken care of all of them. How will I keep a roof over there heads and put food on the table? I will basically be working for free for the next 16 years with no take home pay. Every last penny going to child support.  Can't there be a better outcome and me still be able to provide and raise my children? Shouldn't there be a time limit as far as how long someone can collect free money and assistance from the state and be pushed into taking care of their children on their own instead of living off welfare their whole life?  Help get equal rights for both parents at the time of birth of a child and avoid all this future mess.