Our middle school aged son is Autistic and felt that he was bullied on the bus. We then agreed to a smaller charter school which does not have a school bus. He is doing great in the smaller charter school. We both agreed to the after school program but do not agree if the expense should be included in the child support calculator. I pick him up around 5:00 PM at the school after work. Could this be counted as Extraordinary Expense for a special school since there is no school bus? The school does not allow children to be inside the school unattended.
To be included in the child support worksheet, the NC Child Support Guidelines state that extraordinary expenses are “(1) expenses related to special or private elementary or secondary schools to meet a child’s particular education needs, and (2) expenses for transporting the child between the parent’s homes” as long as these expenses are “reasonable, necessary, and in the child’s best interest.”
In your case, the afterschool care costs you are paying would not be included in the worksheet but would fall under a childcare/afterschool provision which treats these expenses separately from the monthly child support obligation. It does not sound like your separation agreement or court order provides for this and if this is correct, then it is the responsibility of the parent who has custody during that time to pay for childcare/afterschool care.
Mileage and missed time from work are not included in a child support worksheet and are not factored into child support.
Anna Ayscue
Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh • Wake Forest
Rosen Online | Unlimited confidential access to a North Carolina attorney for $199/mo - click here
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 only, a full discussion with an attorney should be undertaken before taking any action. The information posted on this forum is available for public viewing and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship with any individual. These answers are provided for informational purposes only, a person should consult with their own individual legal counsel before taking any action that could affect their legal rights or obligations.