Sched B, line 17: child support received question

[bethgould]

How do I fill out Line 17 on Schedule B (Personal Property)? I receive court-ordered child support from my divorce. The amount ordered is $262 per month, but the amount I actually receive is varied (i.e. Feb. 4th $150.47, Jan. 6th $79.02, Dec. 4th $171.54, etc.). He is currently $1,300.06 in arrears.

Am I supposed to put the court-ordered monthly amount, the last amount I received on Feb. 4th, or something entirely different?

[OhioFiler]

I would use the most recent 6 month average you've received.

[bethgould]

I can include a detailed description on my continuation sheet (where I put my household stuff, clothing, etc). It can go something like this:
Court-ordered monthly child support amount: $262.00
2/4/2010 - received $150.47
1/6/2010 - received $79.02
12/4/2009 - received $171.54
11/4/2009 - received $171.55
10/6/2009 - received $217.80
9/4/2009 - received $125.28
Six-month child support average received: $152.61

I would use the most recent 6 month average you've received.

[youngbroke]

My lawyer(paralegal) added my months and divided by 6 for the total. (some of the months, I didn't get a payment; so, it wouldn't have been fair to me to claim $292.00/month when some of the times in those past 6 months I didn't get it.) This,might I add, was for the means test; but they did put the 292.00 on my current income statement(because going forward, that is what I expected to receive going forward.)

[bethgould]

I can't expect any set amount from the ex, so I'll do the 6-month average on Line 17, Schedule B.