Child Support and Extra Expenses

Dear Trosier,

Child support payments are to meet the reasonable needs of the child for health, education, and maintenance, taking into account the earnings, estates, conditions, accustomed standard of living for the child and the parties, child care and homemaker contributions. Child support is not to 100% of the clothes! You are right about how the amount is calculated. However, any extra expenses are divided between the parties based on their individual agreement, not the child support guidelines. So, the extras you are talking about are outside of the guidelines, unless a court decides they are “extraordinary expenses” and they will be allocated in the worksheet accordingly. Otherwise, you and the other parent have to agree on how to divide the extras.

Good luck,

Shonnese D. Stanback
Attorney
The Rosen Law Firm
4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 200
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
919.256.1534 direct voice
919.256.1667 direct fax
919.787.6668 main voice
919.787.6361 main fax
NCdivorce.com
email: sstanback@rosen.com

The response posted above is based upon the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with an attorney, fully explain your situation, and allow the attorney sufficient opportunity to research the applicable law and facts required to render an accurate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service but a full discussion with an attorney should be undertaken before taking any action.

Is there a definition for what child support is to be used for? As I understand it, the NC spreadsheet takes into account incomes, time with each parent, insurance, childcare, etc. and calculates the amount of child support to pay. This in turn “levels the field” so that the parent receiving the money uses it to take care of the children while they reside with them. And each parent should split 50/50 the “extra” expenses (ie activities, camps, clothes(?), school supplies, unreimbursed medical and dental, etc) Am I wrong here? If so, is there a clear definition? I was also told by a counselor that the child support money was to buy 100% of the clothes.