What Does Child Support Actually Cover?

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written by mallen, November 29, 2010

Depending upon the terms of your judgment, you may be able to avoid the expense. If the terms of your judgment require your written approval, agreement in advance to specific dollar amounts, or a set length of advance notice to respond to the proposal, and your ex-wife did not comply with these requirements, then she may be found to have acted unilaterally and is solely responsible for the cost. These types of conditions are routinely advised by experienced family law attorneys representing fathers. Conversely, attorneys who are less familiar with the issues or who represent the custodial mother may propose vague language which gives the mother a "blank check" so that the father must pay regardless.

With respect to your children’s extracurricular activities, let me warn you that any “veto” power will likely be mutual. In other words, if your decree states that a party who does not agree upon an activity is not required to fund the activity, then your ex may very well object to every activity your children wish to participate in, thus leaving you with the entire financial burden for any sport or lesson that is important to you.

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Child Support Modification
written by mallen, April 15, 2011

In general, you can file a motion to modify child support if you can establish a substantial change of circumstances. The courts consider a significant change in your income, the recipient’s income, or the needs of the child to be a substantial change.

Some state statutes also provide that you can motion to modify child support if it is has been more than 3 years since the date of the last order.

Whether she is entitled to money will depend on the facts of your circumstance. For an estimated amount of child support you should be paying, please visit: http://www.dadsdivorce.com/ind...ainmenu-40

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what does child support cover
written by DadsDivorce admin, October 10, 2011

Obviously the laws determining what child expenses are not included in the direct child support vary by state, but in general, extracurricular activities, uninsured medical expenses and educational expenses are NOT included in the basic child support amount unless specifically included in a settlement agreement, according to Cordell & Cordell partner Spencer Williams.

He said child support generally covers food, clothing and shelter-type expenses.

Child Support Calculator for each state: http://www.dadsdivorce.com/chi...ainmenu-40

But when you’re asked to cover expenses you think child support should be covering, you need to think of child support differently, said Jennifer Paine, another Cordell & Cordell attorney.

"Parents tend to think about child support as a one-way street: I pay support to you for our children, and you are responsible for using that money to support our children," Paine said. "Most state child support schemes, however, calculate child support as a two-way street: you pay support to me and I to you, and we pool the support and each take a share."

While your child support payments are generally a set amount, the calculations used to reach that amount are largely guesstimates of the amount of support a child needs to needs to sustain a standard of living near the marital standard of living, according to Paine.

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Child Support Modification
written by DadsDivorce admin, November 06, 2011

If you believe you are paying too much support, you should file a petition to have your child support amount recalculated. In most states a “change in circumstances” is required. I would need to know more about your case to determine if you have had a sufficient change in circumstances. A change in circumstances can be a change in the amount of time you see your child, a change in either party’s ability to pay, increased travel expenses or any other factors courts in your jurisdiction consider.

Additionally, if the child’s mother is voluntarily unemployed it may be possible to have income imputed to her. Imputation of income allows the court to credit what she should be making, if employed. Child support orders and modifications may be based on earning capacity even in the absence of a showing the obligor intentionally and deliberately sought to avoid family financial responsibilities. If income is imputed to her, it is likely your support obligation will go down.

You should contact an attorney who is licensed in your state to further discuss the specifics of your situation. Cordell & Cordell offices: http://www.cordellcordell.com/offices

Jill A. Duffy is an Associate Attorney in the Troy, Mich., office of Cordell & Cordell. She is licensed to practice in the state of Michigan. Ms. Duffy received her BA in Psychology and Spanish and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Oakland University. She received her Juris Doctor from Michigan State University College of Law and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

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Stop looking at your kids as dollar amounts!
written by Annoyed and Disgusted, December 29, 2011

First things first, crooked people, child support is about making sure that the babies are taken care of. All I keep hearing is dollars this and dollars that and wah-wah-wah. I'm a single mother and chose to just be rid of the father for my child's sake. Would it be nice to have some help? Yes! But you have to do, what you have to do for the sake of the well being of your child.

Dads - take care of your kids because you want to and not because you have to. Your kids need you! There are some crooked woman out there that use child support for their own personal gain true, but for the more often than not the woman is the main caregiver and she is busting her butt every single day to take care of the child. Just because you divorce the mom doesn't mean you divorce the child.

Moms - Use your child support the way it is intended. By not doing so you ruin it for other children AND for your child. Don't be so darn greedy.

Now, let's review. It is about personal responsibility. Be men and women of courage. Think of your child first and not as a dollar amount. Please!

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Foreign national and Remo
written by Mike Murphy, March 18, 2012

I have a son in the Uk. My ex girlfriend has applied through the REMO agreement for child support. I am self employed and have no idea where my next check will come in and as I am a British National here on a visa I cannot work outside my area of expertise. I also have 4 children with my wife and to be honest we have no idea whether we will have to move back to the UK just after the court hearing through burning through our savings and having hardly anything in the bank. Will the judge take these things into consideration? Do you have any advice for me?

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why
written by disgruntled with femnistic laws , April 18, 2012

I believe if a man doesn't want a child and offers to pay for a abortion or morning afther pill an the female does not except it should be her sole responsibility to care for that child she alone made the decision too have

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If I make more money after she divorced me why should I pay more child support?
written by Brian, December 03, 2012

If my income improves after my divorce is finalized and i have already been making cs payments that exceed what the divorce decree stipulates then why would I have to pay more cs if I made more money? She divorced me when I caught her cheating with my "Best Friend". She shouldnt be able to interfere in my life in any way now.

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Do I need to adjust the Child Support
written by Andy, January 22, 2013

I was recently legally separated. We both signed a very strongly worded separation agreement that broke down all the payments I would need to make for Child Support. At that time I was making 3 times her salary, she is significantly under-paid and can't find better employment. She also cheated on me with a co-worker and had a 9 month long relationship with this loser - thus causing the separation. I recently got a huge promotion at work, +16% pay raise and bigger bonus potential. Do I have to re-review the child support calculations or can I just keep quiet about it. If I do have to pay more, will the judge require me to pay the add'l per month for the months that I paid the original?
I pay $350, but pay all medical $175, all day care about $240 and we split 50/50. She shops non-stop and has burned thru about $15K in savings in 3 months.

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Child support for rent
written by Used, March 13, 2013

The mother of my two daughters has not worked in 3 years and she is using child support to pay her rent (we have joint custody) and yet I still pay on top of child support all expenses. Can you get away with that? We are in the state of CA.

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child suppport
written by nina harris, March 19, 2013

The father of my son states that he wants to put our son on his wife's insurance. He has insurance with his employer but want to drop it. I prefer not to have our son on his wife's insurance because of personal conflict. Also she did not adopt our son, so she can't put him on her family insurance, correct?

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FOR JOCELY MCBRYAN
written by Lala, April 05, 2013

tired
written by jocelyn mcbryan, February 10, 2013

"new wives and girlfriends these are choices you made this is not your business poor victimized support payers really?"

You're an ass. I normally don't succumb to insults, but your comment just reeks of bitterness and "payback."
First off- where do you get off involving new wives and girlfriends? From what I'm reading, most commentators are fathers.
Second- when your family increases, ALL children suffer the consequences; less time, money, attention, etc. Is it realistic, or even prudent, to suggest that when a divorced/separated father has new child[ren]with a different woman, this does not apply? Why? Because it is with a different woman? If the case was reversed, would your comment be the same?

Now on to my perspective:

Fathers/Mothers, pay your child support when it is due and the amount due. THIS IS FOR YOUR CHILDREN. If your circumstances change, use the courts to get the necessary help. My husband got a temporary suspension of Child support when he went unemployed. When he gained employement, he paid back in full all he owed. That seems like a reasonable arrangement to me.

Mothers/Fathers- STOP USING YOUR CHILD SUPPORT for things other than for your kids.

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What does he think $600 pays for?
written by Lemerson, May 02, 2013

Over half of that is day care which we BOTH need so we can work. That leaves about $250 for food, toiletries, clothing, medication, transportation (her bus pass is $11 a month!) I more than match that amount in what I provide for her but he wants me to send clothes, shampoo, and lotion on his weekend because he says he already paid for it.

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My knew number 1 fan; the prenuptial agreement; women protect yourself
written by K, May 20, 2013

Women; take care of yourself first-you need to be up to your best in order to be there for your children. PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT! We are the ones who bear the children and are likely more at risk for health issues when we get older--higher medical bills just to take care of ourselves. Why lawyers and courts choose to ignore this--more and more women end up in poverty-we still have less opportunities for saving vs. our male counterparts. The mother always ends up with more of the brunt of it all and the juggling task of it all.