MR

Neal Schon - Neal Schon Wins Legal Round Against Ex-wife

26 February 2013

A judge has turned down a request from rocker Neal Schon's ex-wife for increased child support payments and urged her to get a degree to support her family.


http://www.contactmusic.com/news/neal-s ... fe_3529027

Amber Schon, the Journey guitarist's fourth wife, had asked for her monthly $3,000 (£1,875) cheques to be upped to $5,758 (£3,600).

However, a judge at a family court in Minnesota, where the pair divorced, ruled against the proposed increase, insisting her request was "intended primarily to upgrade her own standard of living".

Amber, who has two minor children with Neal, was also told she could earn an annual salary of $36,000 (£22,500) if she completed her teaching degree.

Speaking about his legal victory, Neal tells Tmz.com, "My concern is with my children and I'm infuriated they are being exploited and used to extort money from me."

Journey's Neal Schon
Judge Tells Ex-Wife ...
Get a Job

Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2013/02/26/journey-g ... z2M18WjCZn

Neal Schon just scored a big victory over his ex-wife -- a judge not only shut down her attempt to milk an extra $2,758/month out of the Journey guitarist, but also suggested she get a degree and support herself ... TMZ has learned.

According to court documents, Amber Schon wanted Neal to up his $3,000/month in child support to $5,758.90/month. Amber and Neal have 2 minor children ... Aja and Sophia.

But a family court judge in Minnesota -- where they were divorced in 2007 -- recently ruled against Amber, saying the requested increase was "intended primarily to upgrade her own standard of living."

And what a standard ... according to the documents, Amber's annual expenses include $7,200 for clothing, $5,760 for a storage locker, and $9,600 for birthday parties.

But the most shocking expense -- $2,400 on postage! Apparently, someone hasn't heard of email.

In the docs, the judge says Amber could be earning up to $36,000/year on her own ... if she'd just complete her teaching degree -- and added it's not Neal's fault she failed to "obtain any kind of employment."

Neal tells TMZ, "My concern is with my children and I'm infuriated they are being exploited and used to extort money from me."

It might be time to stop believin' ... for Amber, anyway

According to court documents, Amber Schon wanted Neal to up his $3,000/month in child support to $5,758.90/month. Amber and Neal have 2 minor children ... Aja and Sophia.

That is an awfully specific amount....

Amber's annual expenses include $7,200 for clothing, $5,760 for a storage locker, and $9,600 for birthday parties.

I don't think I have spent more than $100 on clothes in a month in YEARS and cannot imagine ever spending that much....even for "special events". And her storage locker costs more than most homes...

Good job by this judge!




I have always been sickened by the idea that child care must cost more for people who make more. I understand the need for a base percentage. But just because a parent makes more money should not mean that parent has to pay more than a fair average amount. Anything above is obviously for the other parent to maintain a certain lifestyle....it's abuse of the system!

I think the only thing that should really be adjustable is health care allotments for the kids as that is constantly increasing. If rent is being paid in an area that doesn't have rent control, that can be looked at also but that's it.

Here is only part of the judges findings


Mother was awarded temporary spousal maintenance for sixty months. Father agreed to pay $625 per month for her college expenses and the parties’ PITI mortgage payment plus $7500 per month until the closing of the sale of the parties’ homestead. At that time, maintenance was increased to $12,000 per month through July 31, 2010, and then decreased to $9000 per month through July 31, 2012. The maintenance provisions in the stipulated J&D were based on the expectation that Mother would obtain her teaching degree and become self-supporting during the maintenance period and, accordingly, the maintenance award was made subject to a Karon waiver.

Mother also received a cash property settlement.

Over the past five years, Father has made all of his monthly child support payments in a timely manner, and in addition, has paid the children’s medical insurance and uninsured medical expenses. He has also paid for the children’s education and other non-medical expenses in average monthly amounts of $938 (2009), $2545 (2010), $1258 (2011), and $2228 (2012).

Mother earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Augsburg College at some time within the last five years. She still has eight classes to take to earn a teaching certificate but cannot enroll in the classes because she is delinquent in her tuition payments. She believes she can take these eight classes in 18 months and will be able to obtain employment as a teacher with a salary of $24,000 to $36,000. Mother does not explain why she did not complete her education during the five-year maintenance period or why she could not afford to pay for the classes she did take, particularly given that Father paid tuition for a period of time and after that time, paid her significant amounts for maintenance.

Mother is currently employed part-time by Agency: Modeling and Talent and claims to have earned $2000 over the last two months in the form of commissions but provides no pay stubs to verify these amounts. She also has not provided her most recent federal tax returns or any other verification of income.

Mother claims that she is unable to take a permanent position offered by her current employer as it would conflict with her involvement in the children’s activities. She does not provide any information regarding her efforts to find employment with any other employer. Indeed, she does not explain why she has not been employed during the last five years, including periods of time when she was not in school. She lists the cost of a nanny as a monthly expense but does not explain why she needs the nanny or the nanny’s hours. Presumably the children are in school during most of the weekdays. Mother does not explain why she cannot work during the school day or when the nanny is caring for the children.

Mother has a nonjoint child, Liam, for whom she receives $500 per month in child support.

Mother claims current living expenses of $11,622 per month. These expenses include $4094 in expenses to maintain the home. They also include $5617 per month in expenses for herself. These personal expenses, on an annual basis, include $5760 annually for a storage locker, $7200 annually for clothing, $6000 annually for a car payment, $9600 annually for eyeglasses, $9600 annually for birthday parties, and $2400 annually for “postage.” She also claims to have substantial credit card debt but provides no verification or description of the amount or source of the debt.

Here, Mother claims that she meets the standard for the presumption and rebuttable presumption because her income has decreased substantially due to the discontinuance of her maintenance payments. The Court disagrees. While there can be no dispute that Mother’s income has decreased by at least 20 percent, the decrease in Mother’s income was the direct result of Mother’s choice. She specifically agreed in the Marital Termination Agreement that forms the basis for the J&D, upon the advice of counsel, that her income should decrease by $9000 per month beginning July 31, 2012. Thus, that she would have a decrease in income after July 31, 2012, was her choice.

Mother might argue that there has been a change in income to which she did not agree in that she does not have a teaching job as anticipated by the parties. But she has not shown that her failure to obtain a teaching certificate and a full time teaching job was not the result of her own fault or choice. She has provided no evidence whatsoever explaining her failure to finish her education. Moreover, she admits that she does not consider herself available to work full-time because she wishes to continue participating in the children’s activities.4 Thus, the Court must conclude that Mother’s failure to achieve the replacement income that the parties anticipated was due to her own fault or choice. Accordingly, the statutory presumption and rebuttable presumption do not apply.

Mother has also failed to carry her burden of demonstrating that the current child support order is unreasonable and unfair. There is a presumption that the guidelines will be followed when determining child support; and a party who requests departure from the guidelines should provide evidence that would merit a deviation.

In this case, Father already pays an amount that is a substantial upward deviation from guidelines support.

[b]From what I know Amber moved into a HUGE house from a smaller house (the one I saw posted on US Magazine or ?) is the old house. And yes she had a child out of wed lock with her x boyfriend, this child is a few years old now.

Did she really need to buy a 1/2 million dollar home? (No mention if it was paid in full)

Does anyone out there think Neal has been a good Dad. Not just PAYING for things but being there??? NOT ME. He seems to be too involved in hunting for chicks and being on the road milking a dead Journey. One child is going in his foot steps. One has been in trouble with the law several times.

Just wait til he marries Michelle and then lets see if she tires of being on the road. Hope he gets a prenup, on second thought I hope he doesn't....


[/b]

This wasn't about Neal being a good, or bad father...

LookthruGlass wrote:From what I know Amber moved into a HUGE house from a smaller house (the one I saw posted on US Magazine or ?) is the old house. And yes she had a child out of wed lock with her x boyfriend, this child is a few years old now.

She cant afford to pay for the kids she had with Neal and then she turns around and gets pregnant! Some people just dont get it. Feel bad for the kids.

LookthruGlass wrote:Does anyone out there think Neal has been a good Dad. Not just PAYING for things but being there??? NOT ME. He seems to be too involved in hunting for chicks and being on the road milking a dead Journey.

Financially, it sounds like Neal has done quite a bit for these kids, unfortunetly I dont think hes there much emotionally which is what they really need.

jrnyman28 wrote:

According to court documents, Amber Schon wanted Neal to up his $3,000/month in child support to $5,758.90/month. Amber and Neal have 2 minor children ... Aja and Sophia.

That is an awfully specific amount....

Not out of the ordinary in these sorta things.....anyone with a legal background here will likely support this....

The original award was likely a nice round number and any increase would need to be supported with documentation for justification. She can't just march into court and go "3k isn't enough...I need it doubled!" So amber likely slapped together some bills, quotes, etc...and the aggregate was likely exactly that number of 5,758.90.

The sufficiency of the numerical support is taken into consideration by the judge and given his response in this case, wasn't adequate enough....

Claim Calling NEAL SCHON a "Deadbeat Dad" is False

http://youtu.be/pKZsC86nzqg

Neal or as I call him now Neil, is now doing what he got his panties in a bunch over when Judy opened her mouth. He has posted on his FB all the Google alerts on the subject of being a dead beat dad. He keeps saying no one is going to speak about my kids, any of the 5 he has (knows about). And he also adds that they are trying to ruin him (waa waa)....

ITS ABOUT THE MONEY MONEY MONEY all about the MONEY MONEY MONEY with him !!!!! Not child support, but JOURNEY support !

PS I read an old thread about Michelle leaving her hubby to be with Neil, bet you all didn't think it would get worse...................hahahaaaa
Keep watching people...

I'll never cease to be amazed with Schon's ability to evoke ire and obsession from his fellow man. I applaud him for his innate gift at making himself the very gravitational center of their lives.

Gideon wrote:I'll never cease to be amazed with Schon's ability to evoke ire and obsession from his fellow man. I applaud him for his innate gift at making himself the very gravitational center of their lives.

ya he's kinda like a black hole ain't he?

That's not the kind of "hole" he's used to being called, I'm sure.

Gideon wrote:That's not the kind of "hole" he's used to being called, I'm sure.

[quote="Gideon"]I'll never cease to be amazed with Schon's ability to evoke ire and obsession from his fellow man. I applaud him for his innate gift at making himself the very gravitational center of their lives. [/quote]