The ongoing divorce between Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife Sandi Jackson has been making headlines for several months now. The couple remains at odds over the jurisdiction in which their case will be heard. However, in a recent and unexpected shift, Jesse Jackson Jr. has voluntarily increased his child support payments. A family law attorney working with Jackson gave an explanation for that decision, and the case has prompted debate in Florida and elsewhere.
Early in March, a court ruled that Jesse Jackson Jr. could reduce his monthly child support obligation to just $329 per month. In addition, payments were suspended for the months of April through July, meaning that the first full payment would not be due until August. That change led Sandi Jackson’s attorney to speak out about her husband’s lack of interest in providing financial support for the couple’s children.
Just weeks later, Jackson voluntarily increased the monthly payment back to the prior level of $1,529. While a court still needs to approve the change, Jackson has already made the full payment for the month of March. In addition, Jackson pays for tuition for both children, ages 13 and 16.
In explaining the sudden shift in payment structure, a family law attorney working with Jackson stated that the increase was made in an effort to “streamline” litigation. Because the couple has not yet reached an agreement concerning jurisdiction, both parties have retained a family law attorney in each of two different states. It is possible that by resolving the matter of child support outside of court, Jesse Jackson Jr. is hoping to avoid additional hearings on the issue of financial support for his children. Reducing legal costs is a goal that many Florida residents can certainly appreciate.
Source: chicago.suntimes.com, “After child-support battle, Jackson Jr. now says he’ll pay more“, Tina Sfondeles, March 29, 2017
