Shouldn't custodial parents be made to record how they've spent the child support money?

Question

This isn't always the case, but there are some custodial parents who spend the child support money on themselves rather than on their kids. And since that's the case, doesn't it make sense for the custodial parents to be made to account for how they've spent the child support money?

Answer 1

i agree with you. my good friend recieves 1500.00 a month in child support. her kids wear wal-mart clothes, she wears nothing except stuff from macy's and dilliard's. and not the stuff on sale, either. we went shopping and she spent about 400 bucks on 3 outfits. she also drives a brand-new chrysler that she pays 350 bucks a month for the note alone, not to mention insurance. she would not be able to afford this stuff on 9.00 an hour at the gas station she works at. her 3 year old didn't get much for christmas, she got a care bear doll and legos. but mommy got a new rolex! i don't know why i still talk to this person, come to think of it....

Answer 2

Ok, this is a question that really iritates me. Being a single mother of 3 children and not getting any child support, I may tend to be a bit biased, but if you stop to think about it, you may realize just how right it is. When you go through child support and they itemize every expense that custiodial parent has, your child support is based off of that as well as your income. Now, depending on when the child support comes, the bills may have already been paid, the rent taken care of, and the daycare or any other expenses that you are providing for already paid. So, therefore, in reality, the custodial parent took care of your portion of the expenses with their money, and therefore, the child support is just paying back the portion they spent of their money which should have been your money. That may sound confusing, as sometimes it is harder to type out something than to just explain it. Basically, you are responsible for half of your child's expenses, which include, shelter, food, utilities, and other things as well. And what you feel may be the child support money, is their personal money because they already took care of your half before they received the child support. I do agree that in some cases, they should look into what is occuring, but for the most part, I think people do what they are supposed to with the money received. If there is a doubt that the child is being taken care of properly and does not have the things they NEED, not want, then maybe that is an issue to take up with child services.

Answer 3

Well, I'll agree that there alot of worthless parents out there who regardless of being divorced or married don't spend a dime on their kids, but just on themselves. As for recieving child support and spending it on themselves, I always see both sides. At that moment it's recieved perhaps they go and spend it on something other than just that child....but that doesn't mean that the week before they didn't have to put out 100 dollars for something the kid needed, and now need some of the support for reimbursement after the fact. The support is also decided to help cover the rent, the food, electric bill, gas bill...everything it takes to raise the child...So if mom or dad (whoever has custody) is being a good parent, paying the bills, feeding the kids, they are already "spending" that child support monthly to help cover those costs. I don't see where they need to detail every purchase, bill paid, ect....Now when I see someone collecting child support, neglecting their kid, and never paying the bills, then yes, that's a problem, but truly it would be hard to dictate what one does with child support they recieve.

Answer 4

Oh i think it should absolutley be recorded how they spend the money. My boyfriend pays 560 a month in child support; and do you think it would go to the kid? Hell no- she uses it for her bar money each week. The child will come over here with holes in his shoes and too small of clothes so we have to go out and buy him more on top of sending her money each week. She doesnt even have to pay any bills because she lives at home with her parents and they support her.

Its disgusting; but some custodial parents see it as there meal ticket and dont even use it to the advantage of the child.. If youre not going to spend it on him then atleast put some of it away in a bank account for college. So it gets interest as the years go by

Answer 5

The problem is not whether or not the amount of money is for the child it really about power and control. The system doesn't want to track down the cost of a happy meal or the gas to go there. If the courts use the assumption of "Shared parenting" then this would curve this problem. I know that after my ex was given child support within ten days brought a brand new 4x4 with all the bells and whistles that was within 45 dollars of my monthly child support check was her new car loan. Now its not that she didn't have a car she wanted to stick it to me. So its the system is broken. She has the martial home mortgage free and I am force to pay for 2 bedroom apartment for two weekends a month.

Answer 6

You have a good point, but it might be hard to implement. In cases of blatant waste of the money, such as the mom who spends the money getting herself an expensive coat instead of spending it on the child, it would be nice if the court would step in to "fix" the situation. However, most situations are never so clear. The child might be better served with new school clothes, but the mom takes her to disneyworld instead: while it's not the best use of the money, the child does get great happiness and enjoyment from the money. The truth is, all too often calls for accountability are just another tool for a vengeful ex-spouse.

Answer 7

No, I don't think the custodial parent should have to document how the child support is spent. That would be a form of control, and lots of people get out of marriages because a spouse was controlling. Having to prove how you spent child support would only perpetuate the abuse.

It could also be seen as an infringement of personal liberties. As long as the child is being FULLY cared for, it really is no ones business how the money is spent.

Answer 8

I don't think so because you have to define what is for the child and what is not. Things like gas money or repairs on one's car could appear to be done for one's self but when you think about it, that is needed to transport the child. I think that it could be too tricky to really do that and that so long as the child is taken care of, provided for, and happy that you should not worry about the funds and what exact things they are used for. That would also seem like an invasion of privacy to me unless the child appears to be neglected or not taken care of properly and in that case, I would not be so worried about how the child support money is spent but rather what steps can be taken to either gain custody or ensure that the child is looked after properly.

Answer 9

And how do you think that should work? Keep a separate account that only holds child support money? Get real!!! Child support money is for food, shelter, clothing and so on. There is no way to keep track of how every dime of that money is spend.

Let's see:

Happy Meal $2.99
Gas to drive to McDonald's $2.07/ gallon (traveled 5 miles in vehicle that gets 17 miles to the gallon) so that comes to $.60 for gas for that trip....But can I count that as being spent on the child because I ate too?
Mortgage $800, but I live there too, so do I only count half of the mortgage toward the child.
And the list could go on and on.

Do you see how insane it is to even ask a question like that?

Answer 10

Speakin from my point of view. I think if should be requested When you see the kid not being supported with that money. I get X amount and ALL but $5 goes to daycare. So my ex knows better than to ask me.