Determining child support after getting a divorce is a crucial process conducted by the court. Child support can also become a conflict between the couples when there is no agreement on what expenses should be covered and what should not be covered in child support payments. Before getting divorces, the couples should understand all the laws about child support payments and how the expenses are to be handled.
What does the Child Support Cover?
In most states, child support is intended to meet the children’s basic needs and support children’s general expenses. Below are some of the expenses that are covered in child support.
1. Basic Necessities
The basic needs like groceries, snacks, beverages, and other food items must be fulfilled using child support paid to the custodial parent. It may also be used to buy shoes, jackets, appropriate clothing, and shelter expenses.
2. Medical Care and Uninsured Medical Bills
Child support is also to be used for paying the medical bills of children. Typically in all states, parents have employment health benefits, and usually, children carry some form of health insurance from their parents. Child support is also used to pay for uninsured and extraordinary medical expenses.
3. Education Expenses
Another expense that the child support covers is the cost of education. The cost of transportation cost is also needed to be covered under child support. However, the cost of private school is not included or covered in child support. There are also some situations where the courts can order both the parents to pay for the children’s education.
What Child Support Does Not Cover?
Certain expenses are not included in child support. Additional costs like a private school, private tutoring, recreational activities (for example, dance and sports), cars, car insurance, and college are generally not included. Either of the parents should bear the expenses on their own. The law does not allow these expenses to be included in child support.
How Long Does The Child Support Be Active?
In most cases, child support remains active until the child attains 18 or completed high school graduation. At that point, the courts consider the child self-sufficient and permit the parent to stop supporting basic needs.
Contact Our Child Support Attorney
For couples taking a divorce, it is essential to know what to be included in child support to protect their financial status and see their well-being. If you are currently negotiating with your ex-spouse about child support, you need to contact our experienced men’s child support attorney to know that you are paying the right amount of support. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
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