Are school supplies and clothes considered part of child support?

Question

I regularly pay child support on my two children and have since the divorce. My ex-wife is now requesting additional monies for school clothes and supplies when I already pay over $ 8,000 per year. Is this justified, or in the eyes of the court, does my child support pay for these expenses?

So far, I have received quite a bit of feedback, but I need to elaborate. As I said, I pay over $8k a year in support, and have voluntarily increased my CS amount as my income has changed, to keep up with the state guidelines. In addition, I pay for the health insurance on the kids and pay for the sports that my kids are involved in, with no help from her. I paid $7500 a year for my daughter while she was taking gymnastics. When I asked my ex for help, she said she could not help. While I have an auto draft setup to send the CS directly to her bank account, she never seems to be short of new nails, going out to eat, etc. I pay enough to pay for her house payment, yet she still wants more. Why can't she seem to be able to budget money?

More information now that the conversation is getting really good. A year ago my ex had another child, and did not know who the father was. After having three paternity tests done, she figured out who the father of her child is. He pays absolutely NO child supprt, and in addition to the support I provide, my ex now gets food stamps, WIC, and a medical card. My son has already told me that her mom is looking for the daddy and when she does, she is going to put him in jail and then they will get more child support and go shopping!

Answer 1

If you DO get a receipt signed by the obligee for the monetary value of the items you purchased and she received, then it very well may be considerd towards child support, and lessen your support.

It you DO NOT get a receipt and don't make it clear, then it would be considered a gift.

Best practice is to get a receipt for evey expenditure that you would want to be considered as child support and for the ones you may not plan to as well. They may come in handy if there is any sort of dispute or questions.

In most areas, she would have to bring you to Domestic Relations court and prove a substantial change in her financial status or other extenuating circumstances to have a good stand. Also consider the cost of health insurance and other things that are being contributed on behalf of the children.

Check with your locality. There are minimum and maximum guidelines and percentages that can be taken for these purposes.

Answer 2

To answer your first question, yes the money you supply for her monthly is sufficient enough to include most all school supplies and clothes. The only exception being if the child enters into a band or other extra activity that requires equipment or such then you should both go half. In fact if you buy clothes you can actually show the receipt to child support to have them deduct "monies" from your account (if they are involved) if not then it sounds like you need to have a lawyer get involved and have them evaluate her living situation (they may lower your support if her income is greater than yours). The answer to your second question is she has a free RIDE from you and knows that you respond well to her demands where the kids are concerned and is going as far as she can, to see where you will stop. Especially if you are currently seeing someone or have a current girlfriend/fiance then that's her reason for attack--jealousy. It doesn't matter if the both of you hated each other on the way out, the fact that someone new has YOU will just eat her up, even if she has someone or not. Good luck my friend, see a lawyer and try getting custody of your kids (no more support for her) I'm sure she'll ease up a little over the threat of losing all the money all together!

Answer 3

That is more support than I will see in my child's life time good for you, in my agreement my ex is to pay 50% of school supplies , 50%day care, activities like dance, 50% of college and full medical insurance

What I do is I pay for it and send my ex a copy of the bill with the day care I have them send him a copy , School supplies I send him the list from the school and the receipt when I buy it and send it certified mail and give him 30 days to pay me it back, I have not seen a dime but the record is there and now I have to take him to small claims court every year and it gets added to the support owed and it collects interest every month

The clothes I would say yes that is what support is for, food, shelter, and clothes

My suggestion is ask for the list and buy 1/2 of the items on the kids lists, if you do buy clothes take the kids shopping and tell your ex wife I am spending this much money and give her a certifed letter that you purched thes items for your kids school needs and its not a gift for the kids

Answer 4

First of all I would like to commend you for supporting your kids. A lot of men do not do this. They walk away, start a new life and forget all about the kids they presently have.
The child support you pay is sufficient for all the kids needs, along with her half of paying for their needs. Your ex does not budget because she does not have to, nor does she want to. If she has all this "free" money rolling in that is increased at the blink of any eye she is not going to change that. Nor will she have any sympathy on you. I am not sure what ended your relationship, but it could be that she has some pinned up resentment towards you and is making you pay for it this way (in the pocket). Bottom line is, you do not have to give her any additional money, and if you do, it is considered a "gift".

Answer 5

I was in the same boat for almost 22 years... My support was considerably more, but that has nothing to do with my answer. It doesn't matter where the money goes. How much would you be willing to pay for the safety of your children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with food and board?

I am not taking her side, I am just telling you that from my experience that if you are spending what you are spending, it is money well spent. This is not a forever thing (child support). Your kids will remember how you were there for them.

As for your ex, she will have to answer for the way she spent the money. Not to you or the judge, but to you kids. Believe me, they grow up and will ask... At least mine did. They also said that if hadn't been for me they don't know where they would have wound up. That in itself was payment enough for me.

But to answer your question... Yes, it is considered as child support. Unless your degree specifically declares that these are separate costs to be shared by you. You seem to be a good parent, and raising good kids will be your reward... hang in there.

Answer 6

The money you supply should be used for school supplies and clothes. The only way you should send more money is if the court instructs you or you want to be nice and send more. She is probably just trying to get more cash from you. She can't make you send more money unless the court decides you should.
Don't cave in to her demands but don't short your kids either. Ask your wife to send you an itemized list of where all the money you send for your kids is going. A lot of women spend all the money on themselves and don't do anything for the kids then blame it on the father. It's sad but true and the kids are the ones that suffer. Don't let her emotionally blackmail you though. Use logic and figure out where the money is going.

Answer 7

Child support does not cover much! Consider rent or mortgage, utilities, food, medical, clothing, car and upkeep, insurance, child care, school extras, extra curricular activities, etc........You know, men (or women) who pay child support and then WONDER where the money goes are simply trying to control a situation they do not like. It is nothing more than a sorry attempt to make the custodial parent somehow feel guilty for needing more than what little child support actually helps with. In my eyes they are pathetic.

Answer 8

The child support you pay every month is supposed to go towards things like that, school clothes, supplies, anything the child needs...afterall, that's why it is called "child support".

You have done so much already by paying for their medical insurance and opting to pay for their extra-curricular activities on top of the monthly child support. I appluad you for doing so, most men try to run, hide, and try to cheat the system.

I don't think she has any right to be asking for more, but if she gets it in her head to call up her lawyer and go after you for more, you better have YOUR lawyer handy and all your financial documents ready.

Plus, if you're already paying the maximum allowed according to your state law, then she really can't ask for much more, now can she? She sounds like a real witch.

Good Luck!

Answer 9

Instead of giving her the cash, why don't you pick up the kids and take them to get some clothes, and if you are paying that much and meeting their needs, she should take them shopping too. I solute you for paying for your children,my son just turned 20 and I never ever received a dime for child support! You are paying allot, but kids cost allot. The money is not everything, you being a good father is! Good-luck to you!

Answer 10

In the eyes of the court, your child support is for EVERYTHING that the kids would need. Maybe your ex is not spending money very wisely. If your kids are truly suffering and going without necessecities, then you might want to figure out a way to get her to allocate the money better or take them shopping and buy the stuff yourself, instead of giving extra money to your ex.