This advice applies to England. See advice for Northern Ireland , Scotland , Wales. You can check what counts as approved education or training on GOV.
It could also be a payment towards things like bills or rent for the home where your child lives. There are 3 different ways to arrange child maintenance. Some people arrange maintenance voluntarily with each other, others have maintenance calculated and collected under a government scheme and some have arrangements made by a court order.
That said, financial support can only do so much to maintain a sense of "normal" for a child. It's up to the parents to spend those funds responsibly and ensure that the money is allocated to their various needs first and foremost.
More than just maintaining a sense of normal, these payments support a child's desire to explore the world around them and try new things. Taking up an instrument, learning how to build computers, or cultivating an interest in cooking all cost money but are all examples of such valuable hobbies for a growing mind to explore.
Child support payments help to support your child's desire to grow and expand their knowledge which could lead to life-long interests and even future careers. Child support payments are to be devoted to all sorts of things that support a child's well-being. They help cover the costs of necessities for children such as clothing, food, and shelter.
They also help pay for their education by way of school tuition, supplies, tutors, and even lunch money. While many times the parent who receives better medical and dental insurance benefits from their employer will cover that for their children, other uninsured medical costs should be paid, at least in part, by funds from child support.
Besides these necessities, child support can help pay for fun activities for children such as extracurriculars, camp costs, and more. Other entertainment-related items like electronics and toys may also be paid for using child support. Being able to manage the costs involved with all of these things helps to support the well-being of children after divorce as well as promotes a sense of normality after such a profound change in the family.
Another reason why parents pay child support is so that they can shield themselves and their family from having to face legal repercussions down the road.
Keeping up with these payments helps to promote financial stability in each parent's home, which may help to prevent the need for parents to return to court due to disputes over money. Courts across the country have measures in place for when a parent does not pay child support. Wage garnishments , driver's license suspension, and even jail time are only a few possible consequences that a parent may face if they do not fulfill their obligation to pay child support.
Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Here are the basics so you can start the process confidently. The agreement can be entered into voluntarily or through a court order. You might be tempted to save yourself from the trouble of officially filing for child support if you and the other parent get along great and make a verbal financial agreement, but circumstances can change.
Child support is intended to be used for expenses related to child care and day care , and it may also include provisions for health insurance and medical care. Payments are made until a child reaches the age of majority, which is usually 18 but can be 19 to 21 or when a child graduates from high school depending on the laws of the state where you live. It takes into consideration:. But if one of you makes significantly more than the other, that parent will probably have to pay some child support.
Child support laws are set by the state where each parent lives. This will be taken into account by the Child Support Guideline calculator. If your incomes are about the same, and the child spends about the same amount of time with each of you, probably neither of you will pay or receive child support.
What if the other parent is not paying what the court ordered? That parent is still entitled to visit the child according to the court order. Click here for a Motion for Contempt you can fill out on the computer. You will still need to print and file it with the court. What if I do not want to pay the child support that the court ordered?
You are still entitled to visit your child according to the court order. You must continue to pay what the court ordered until the court changes its order. How do I change the child support order?
You can file a Motion to Modify Child Support Order if your or the other parent's financial circumstances have changed.
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