When a parent is awarded child support in the wake of a divorce, one common question that the receiving spouse has is “what costs are covered by these payments?”
The question is an important one. Understanding what goes into child support is important for setting expectations appropriately. It can also help parents avoid the pitfall of feeling like they are being taken advantage of by the other parent.
Child support payments can cover a wide range of costs. Child support is designed to cover the needs of a child, including housing, food and clothing, but it may cover additional expenses as well. Montana’s child support guidelines were developed to look out for the interests of children and minimize the impact of a split on their lives.
Child support is not limited to the basic necessities. It may also cover other expenses, such as medical costs. In some cirucmstances it may cover educational costs, such as school supplies, tuition, and other related fees.
There are also a bunch of “extra” costs that child support covers. For example, it can cover transportation and travel costs to ensure your children get from point A to point B. It can cover any extracurricular activities your child may be involved in, such as sports, camps, and clubs.
Child support will depend on the unique circumstances of each parent
What is included in child support will invariably depend on the individual circumstances of each parent.
Parents often feel frustrated by the pinch of supporting their own separate household. Splitting one home into two is never easy. It can be a challenge to figure out how to make it work, but it is seldom about one parent trying to fleece the other or skimp on a child and often more about trying to find a balance.
Source: FindLaw, “What Does Child Support Cover?,” Accessed Jan. 5, 2017