Child Support is an amount of money one parent pays to the other that is ordered by the Court. Typically, child support covers or subsidizes a portion of the receiving parent’s mortgage or rent expense, utilities, food and regular monthly expenses. If not specifically stated in an agreement or Court order, then it also may cover the children’s clothing and entertainment expense, a portion of the children’s health insurance premium, field trip costs, school supplies, and grooming.
Some parents elect to enumerate child related expenses that they will share in addition to the payment of child support. Some examples are: health related expenses, dental and orthodontic expense, vision and mental health costs, school uniforms, school supplies, SAT testing and college application costs, car and insurance costs, private school tuition, extra-curricular activities and any other child expense unique to your family. If a specific expense is not specifically stated as shared between the parents, then the parent incurring the expense may not be entitled to reimbursement from the other parent.
