Business & Corporate Law

WHAT DOES CHILD SUPPORT COVER?

There is a growing misconception among some that child support should only cover a child’s bare necessities, such as food and clothing. In truth, child support is meant to cover a broad range of expenses, which may include school fees, entertainment, medical, and extracurricular activities, among other things.

To help clarify this issue, all 50 states have established child support guidelines to determine the amount of child support a parent may be required to pay. As such, courts take into consideration a variety of factors, such as a parent’s income and ability to pay, the financial needs of the child and the amount of support needed to maintain a child’s existing standard of living, if at all possible.

Even so, courts do not require parents to prove the child support payments they receive go toward specific activities, except, for example, in cases where a child’s basic needs are not being met. The assumption is that parents with physical custody of a child are paying for the necessary expenses to raise the child and, therefore, courts will not monitor the spending habits of a custodial parent.

Because child support laws vary greatly among the states, it is important to check the child support guidelines in your state to determine how support may be calculated in your particular case.

Below is a listing of what child support may be used for

Basic Necessities – Food, Clothing, Shelter

Obviously children need food, proper clothing, and a safe and comfortable place to live. At a minimum, child support may be used to purchase groceries, snacks, beverages and other food items. It may also be used to purchase shoes, jackets, and appropriate clothing. Also, child support may be used to pay for the child’s related shelter costs, such as mortgage or rent, lighting, telephone, and utility bills.

Medical Care

Children need basic medical care. Most states require divorced or separated parents to carry some form of health insurance for their child. Typically, the parent with better employee-covered benefits will be required to carry the medical, dental and/or vision insurance plan.

Uninsured Medical Expenses

Child support may be used to pay for uninsured or “extraordinary” medical expenses. “Extraordinary” medical expenses may include any out-of-pocket medical costs that exceed the cost of a basic health care insurance plan, including co-pays, deductibles, and surgery costs. In many circumstances, child support may be used to cover these and other expenses, such as dental braces, casts, eyeglasses, and other special health care costs (especially if a child has pre-existing special medical needs). Most states require both parents to split the cost of additional medical care (depending on their state’s guidelines).

Educational Fees (School Fees, Supplies, and Related Costs)

Education is not free, even if a child is attending a public school. There are several fees needed to support school-aged children. Therefore, child support may be used to pay for many school-related needs, such as school clothes/uniforms, tuition fees, textbooks, lunch money, and private tutors, if necessary.

Childcare

If one or both parents are unable to care for their child due to work-related issues, then child support may cover the costs of childcare expenses. This may include the cost of daycare services, babysitters, nannies, or other childcare expenses and fees. This may also include the cost of child care during the summer months, spring break, and some holidays.

Transportation/Travel

Since children need to get from one place to another safely, child support may be used to pay for basic transportation and travel cost. This may include the cost to maintain a car, including gas fees, car payments, registration, and insurance, or the cost to ride a bus or other form of transportation.

Child support may also be used for travel cost – especially when a child is traveling to visit the noncustodial parent in another area, for instance.

Entertainment

Many courts hold that a child is entitled to basic entertainment, which may include access to computers, television programs, games, and the Internet, among other things. This may also include visits to a movie theatre, amusement parks, camping trips, and other outings. Therefore, child support may be used for a child’s age-appropriate entertainment desires, as agreed upon between the parents.

Extracurricular Activities – Summer Camps, Sports Activities and More

Child support may be used to pay for a child’s extracurricular activities – typically those that fall outside of regular school hours. This may include after-school programs/classes, summer camp, sports activities, clubs (for example, Girl Scouts), and other non-school related activities.

College Expenses 

In some instances, child support may be used to pay for a child’s college expenses. Many states reason that a child’s education should not suffer because of their parents’ divorce or separation. These states will typically require a noncustodial parent to contribute to the cost of college, even after the child has reached the age or majority, if the child is attending full-time and has not yet graduated.

Courts will factor the essential financial and support needs of a child, and reflect those needs in a child support order. If a child’s needs change, or if there is a significant change in a parent’s circumstances, however, it may be necessary for a parent to file for a modification of existing child support or contact a child support lawyer in their area.

Child Support Questions? Get Legal Help Today

When you’re caring for a child, expenses can add up. Each parent has an obligation to provide financial support for the child including food, shelter, and medical care. If you’re thinking of filing a child support claim, you should consider having an advocate on your side to make sure your child is getting all the financial support allowed under the law. Learn more by contacting and experienced family law attorney in your area today.

Reference: Find Law, Child Support

Kindly visit our Family Law and Child Support websites or contact one of our Philadelphia Family Law Attorneys or Philadelphia Child Support Attorneys at 215-977-8200 for more information on this topic.