Child support can be a complex issue. To make matters more difficult, there may be hard feelings between you and your ex-spouse. When it comes to child support, it is not rare for one or both parents to become combative. There are a lot of assumptions regarding child support that may lead to fights. It’s important to separate the myths from the truth when it comes to child support.
Child Support Is for More than Necessities
Most parents believe different myths about child support payments. If you are receiving payments from your spouse, he or she may claim that you can only spend the money on specific items, such as food or clothes. The truth is that child support payments are for all the child’s expenses.
You can use child support for:
- Utility costs
- Extracurricular activities
- Clothes
- Food
- Entertainment
Child support is for the reasonable costs of the child. When determining child support, the court will consider the child’s necessities and the income of the parents. These are huge factors in the child support obligation.
Parents Do Not Have to Show Receipts
It is a common misconception that you must show receipts for child support. Some parents will demand to see how their ex-spouse spends the child support. In most circumstances, one spouse cannot ask to see receipts. It is up to the custodial parent to decide how to spend the child support money.
The courts often see child support as reimbursement. For instance, when one parent pays child support, the other may have already paid the bills for that month. In this case, the parent is free to spend the money how he or she wishes because the obligation was already fulfilled.
Contact a Lawyer
There are instances, however, where a judge may compel a parent to produce receipts. This is in rare cases where the other parent can prove negligence. For instance, if the child’s needs are not being met, despite paying for child support, the court may investigate the situation. Courts can monitor how you spend child support as long as there is clear evidence of misuse of funds.
In most cases, you do not have to provide receipts for child support. As long as your child is provided for, then your ex-spouse cannot demand to see receipts for the payment. There are exceptions to the rule, however. If you have questions regarding child support or if you’re concerned about having to provide receipts, contact a lawyer, like a child support lawyer from The Law Office of Jason Wright, PLLC.