Legal Question in Family Law in Washington
Expenses covered by child support
My child support order and final decree are very vague, and I'd like to know what expenses the child support that I am paying is intended to cover. Also, am I obligated, or required, to provide anything beyond what is in the child support order? (In my case it is child support and medical and dental expenses.) For example, during visitations, am I required to provide monies and transportation for any activities outside of school such as sports, hobbies, driving school, summer school, etc., arranged by the custodial parent with no respect for my work schedule or my finances?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Expenses covered by child support
Child support is supposed to cover the necessaries of life: food, shelter, clothing and education. You ar ealso providing medical and dental care expenses. When your child is with you, you are expected to act like a parent who cares for their child and pay for activities that are normal during the visitation times. However, if the custodial parent arranges for driver's education during summer visitation with you, that custodial parent should pay for driver's ed even though it is being taken while the child is with you. You cannot be forced to pay for things that are imposed upon you and not in the order of child support and child support worksheets. You also are expected to behave like a normal parent who cares for his child and is willing to spend money on them for normal activities while the child is with you. Any questions, call me.