Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

bills in collection. who is obligated?

non custodial parent is being suid by collections for childrens medical bills not paid by the custodial parent. the bills are about 3 to 4 years old and they have late fees, interest etc. added to them. medical insurance is covered in the parenting plan and is calculated in the child support. the custodial parent is supposed to provide insurance coverage but hasn't and now has bills that are not being paid. is there anything that can be done? the custodial parent already has numerous judgements and wages being garnished. repayment is not going to happen in this lifetime. this is the first the non custodial parent has heard about this money being owed. the collections has said they don't care what the parenting plan says. they will collect from which ever parent they can get the money from. Is there any way of not having to pay the collections?


Asked on 8/28/08, 9:26 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Heather Young Tuell, Couture, Tuell & Young, P.S.

Re: bills in collection. who is obligated?

Without seeing your order of child support I cannot tell who is obligated. Most Washington orders of support require the custodial parent to pay only a small portion of the uncovered medical bills from the child support, the rest is considered extra ordinary and is paid by the parents in proportion to their income as found on the order of child support. You should review your order of child support for your oblgiations for extraordinary medical expenses.

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Answered on 8/29/08, 12:44 pm


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