Last month, our blog discussed how a new Internet startup called “Wevorce” was seeking to make divorce more amicable by simplifying the mediation process. This, according to its founders, could purportedly be accomplished by giving divorcing couples access to so-called “divorce architects” and specialized software designed to reduce the hurdles encountered in a typical divorce.
While the jury is still out on the ultimate success of Wevorce, it’s important to note that it’s not the only online service marketed toward those dealing with a divorce.
Another online service called “SupportPay” was released just last month by the software development company Ittavi. Unlike Wevorce, SupportPay is not marketed to those in the midst of the divorce process, but rather to those who have already gone through it and are looking for some sort of assistance concerning the management of child support payments.
SupportPay is the brainchild of Sheri Atwood, a 35-year-old former marketing executive and divorced mother of one. According to Atwood, the challenges associated with child support became all too clear after her divorce was finalized.
“I came from a family that had a horrible divorce, and when it came time for me, I thought it would be different,” said Atwood. “But managing child support payments, child care, pickup schedules, figuring out who will pay for this and that. You’ve got an Excel spreadsheet out all the time, and you’re still swamped.”
Anxious to provide relief to divorced parents, Atwood quit her high-paying corporate job to devote two years to the development and launch of SupportPay, which can now be downloaded as an Android app with an iPhone app soon to follow.
SupportPay, which was modeled after a well-known corporate workflow software program, provides parents with access to everything from calendars and schedule management tools to tax software and access to third-party payment systems.
While the app is currently available at no charge to interested parents, it should be noted that Atwood envisions charging roughly $20 per month for the app and its supplementary services further down the road.
It should be interesting to see whether SupportPay catches on among divorced parents. In the meantime, for those with questions or concerns regarding child custody, child support, or other divorce-related matters, you should strongly consider consulting with an experienced attorney who can outline your options and enforce your rights.
What are your thoughts on this software? Is it something that you would be willing to try?
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