Probably a lot of this to it. When I got married the amount the state expected for any kid went from a pretty standard computed amount of 20% (30% post tax) to

Probably a lot of this to it. When I got married the amount the state expected for any kid went from a pretty standard computed amount of 20% (30% post tax) to more like the ~10% post-tax it actually costs me to take care of the kid without mandated support (which still affords them quite a generous lifestyle). There's no rational reason why the kid is always gonna need 3x the money if you're not married, yet the courts say it's so dire a need to spend 3x the money for unmarried couples if you don't pay it you go to jail.