The kids live with both of us 50/50, but their mom is listed as the primary caregiver. We both need them in camp during the summer while we’re working. Does my child support cover part of this?
Thanks!
Child support usually doesn’t even come close to covering what it really costs to raise a kid. My husband’s child support payments from his ex just go straight into savings every month so we can use it to cover part of the eight weeks of summer childcare. That’s pretty much all it covers.
I work as a mediator in NY (not giving legal advice, just general info). Child support usually doesn’t include childcare—that’s usually split based on income or whatever arrangement the parents agree on.
Courts tend to see day camp as childcare since it’s not school but still lets parents work. If neither of you waived the right to ask for childcare costs, you might want to chip in for camp.
@True
Interesting, because in Alabama, childcare costs are included in child support calculations. I’ve seen NY orders where it’s separate. We have max amounts, but a judge can adjust based on actual costs.
Splitting it based on income makes sense.
You’d likely split it 50/50.
If you have 50/50 custody, why are you paying child support at all?
Jay said:
If you have 50/50 custody, why are you paying child support at all?
Probably because he has 50/50 legal custody, but the mom is the primary caregiver on paper.
Jay said:
If you have 50/50 custody, why are you paying child support at all?
Or maybe he earns more.
Jay said:
If you have 50/50 custody, why are you paying child support at all?
Or maybe he earns more.
OP said he earns less, actually.
smart1 said:
Jay said:
If you have 50/50 custody, why are you paying child support at all?
Or maybe he earns more.
OP said he earns less, actually.
Just saw that—makes no sense why he agreed to it.
Parents usually pay for childcare when the kids are with them, so you’d likely be responsible for half.
If your child support order doesn’t specifically include childcare costs, then no, it doesn’t cover camp.
Was camp factored into your original child support agreement?
Does your child support cover daycare during the school year?
Camp is usually just summer daycare. Most likely, you’d each pay half. If you have a custody agreement, check who gets to claim this expense on taxes.
No, you’d be expected to pay for childcare on your days, which means covering your half.
Unless your agreement says otherwise, each of you is responsible for covering childcare when the kids are with you. You should try to agree on a camp and split the cost evenly.
@Raven
Might be time to go back to court and get this adjusted.
@Elianna
We went through mediation, so I’ll need to check the paperwork.
Child support usually doesn’t cover things like daycare. You’d likely each be responsible for childcare on your own custody days, but maybe one of the lawyers here can weigh in.