Child Support Expenses Information From Our Bucks County Area Attorney

Children need not only love and emotional support, but financial support too. The basics include housing, food, clothing, and healthcare. But children benefit from extracurricular activities of all kinds. How are these to be paid for?

The basic guidelines for child support are found in the statutes of most states, including Pennsylvania. These establish the amount of support a non-custodial parent will have to pay. The non-custodial parent is one with whom the child does not live.

The formula determining support is periodically revised. Contact the firm for assistance in understanding your obligations or rights.

The monthly net income of the parents must be determined and applied to the established child support guidelines. The income of your former spouse is not always easy to know. If he or she is self-employed or has a source of income you are not aware of, it is not as easy if he has an employer merely paying him and reporting those payments to the taxing authorities.

Additional Expenses

It is paramount to take into consideration childcare expenses that incur in order to enable the custodial parent to be gainfully employed. These additional expenses would be divided proportionately based on the monthly net income of the parties.

Extraordinary expenses such as private and/or parochial school expenses, after-school activities, sports or hobbies - instrument lessons, summer camp, ballet lessons, etc. - are a separate category. Whether the non-custodial parent will be required to contribute to these depends on multiple factors and are decided on a case-by-case basis. Factors may include the annual earnings of a parent, the particular child's aptitude/interests, and many other factors.

The issues surrounding the payment of these additional expenses often becomes very contentious. An experienced trial attorney is necessary to ensure your interests and the best interests of your children are protected.

As in any matter relating to children, it is the "best interest of the child" that is foremost. A court may reject a plan the parties come up with, if it is not in the child's best interest. Our firm can counsel and represent you in pursuing arrangements that are best for your child and your family.

We have more than 30 years experience and have helped thousands of people resolve family law problems including child support expenses, and child support collection. Contact a lawyer today.