I have a question for divorced parents who receive child support and who has children in extracurricular activities. Do you consider the payment of the extra's to be covered by child support or is that something that is split between the parents outside of child support?
This should be part of the court decree. If it isn't then you can ask your ex but he/she is free ti say no.So I'd say to read through the paperwork and see what's spelled out first. If its not in there then contact your ex first and if that doesn't work out then contact your lawyer and see about going to court again.
It depends on your agreement. The only support that's spelled out specifically in mine is that my ex will cover all college expenses and healthcare costs until our daughter graduates. We have shared other expenses, like prom dress, yearbook, outside classes, etc, but that's just stuff we work out between us, it's not court ordered.
I'm surprised this was not included in your MSA (marital settlement agreement). The form has check boxes for things like uniforms, extracurricular activities, health care, and other costs as well as who gets to decide on the child's extracurricular activities, and where the child will be during things like winter or summer break, but I guess each state's standard form/template is different, if yours didn't have it. Why not try to contact your ex and see if he will agree to split the cost? Put it in writing -- text him or email him, in case he decides to backtrack. If he says yes, it will make things easier, because you can avoid the headache of lawyers, the back and forth of negotiations, and time in court. If not, or he fails to keep his word after putting in writing that he'd be willing to split the cost, you can hire a lawyer and have him/her draft a document that your ex and his lawyer can agree on, and go to court once you're all in agreement.
yes talk to the lawyer, and see waht the courts have to say about it.
if there is an activity the child wants to do you can talk to the other parent to see if they will financially assist you with its costs. but its between you and the other parent and the court orders of your specific case to decide if they should have to or not.
What anyone considers is irrelevant - it should be spelled out in the child support decree in court.
It's one thing to split the cost of a child in a dance/art class or Scouts, it's another if the kid is suddenly signed up for an expensive sport - like cheer leading - and then there's a sudden demand for a lot more support from one parent who didn't agree to spend that much money.
If it's not spelled out in court - then a parent can refuse to pay for that and he/she isn't breaking any laws/agreements.
Talk this over with your lawyer - he'll know the laws in your state and will be better able to answer your questions.
Some extracurricular activities are very expensive and are just financially out of reach of some kids.
Sometimes parents have to say 'no' even if they aren't divorced and splitting costs.
I agree with the others it depends on your custody agreement. If it's not if you have a somewhat decent relationship that you can ask him about it that would be good. And like one of the others said it might depend on what kind of activity you would be looking at. Like if God forbid me and my husband split up we would have to have that my son's gymnastics is split somehow. We spend upwards of $5000 a year if not more not including uniform and that's not including when we have to travel and our expenses to be there. Your ex might not be ok with you enrolling her in something like that and then expecting him to pay half. But say you are enrolling her in a class that is even $75 a month some would have a fit about that. Many parents think that their child support should go to that type of stuff.
This kind of thing is often spelled out specifically in the support order. For example, it is common for a support order to say $___ per month in child support + 50% of the cost for extracurricular activities. (The activities may be subject to pre-approval from both parents.)
When this isn't specified, then the $___ support amount is the extent of the legal obligation. The non-custodial parent can always choose to voluntarily contribute if they wish, but they can't be legally made to do without a new court order.
it's different for everyone and needs to be addressed in the divorce settlement.
khairete
S.
