The mother of my 6-year-old daughter is taking me to court because I haven’t paid my share of her health insurance. We have a court order to split costs 50/50, but she put our daughter on her insurance two years ago without my consent and hasn’t shared the cost details.
I haven’t paid her because she hasn’t provided any receipts or proof of how much she’s paying. I’ve asked several times, but no bills have been shared. I’m worried I might be overpaying if the bill is lower than what she’s asking.
My questions are:
Will I be found in contempt of court for not paying without seeing the costs?
Is there a risk of arrest?
I’m ready to pay my share, but I need to see proof of the cost first.
Hey,
You could be in contempt if there’s a court order, but you can file a motion asking her to provide details on the monthly insurance cost and receipts for her expenses. It’s a good idea to get a lawyer for this. Avoid arguing that she didn’t get your permission for the insurance; the key issue is that the insurance is for your child’s benefit, and if you weren’t providing it, your ex acted appropriately.
Explain your situation clearly and provide evidence of your communication about the issue. Once she provides the cost details, be prepared to pay your share. Requesting documentation is entirely reasonable and not being too picky.
Hello,
You’re not in the wrong. I’ve been in a similar situation myself. Anything you’re ordered to pay a percentage of requires her to provide an actual bill or invoice. Depending on your court order and state laws, she might have a time limit to submit these bills for reimbursement. For example, in my case, I had 60 days to submit expenses for reimbursement.
The court will question why she hasn’t provided receipts for the insurance costs and will require her to give you that evidence. She may also face criticism for bringing a simple issue to court. Just bring the records showing that you’ve repeatedly asked for the receipts. It should be a straightforward process.