As a parent, you probably consider the current and future well-being of your child to be of the utmost importance. If you are going through a divorce, you may have concerns about how the process might affect your child and how the outcome of the situation will impact his or her future.
Following your divorce, you may wish to continue providing your child with the necessary financial support. However, you probably don’t want to fund the personal endeavors of your former spouse in the process, and you may wish to gain a better understanding of what child support payments should cover.
What does child support cover?
Reaching an acceptable agreement for child support can be a stressful and daunting process. However, by gaining an understanding of the applicable uses of support payments, you could become better prepared for negotiations, and some of these uses may include:
- Basic needs: Child support is to help cover the costs of basic items such as food and clothing, and it can even assist in covering living expenses such as rent or mortgage payments.
- Educational expenses: Any fees associated with your child’s education are another applicable use of child support. These can include school tuition and fees, and the costs of supplies.
- Costs of medical treatment: Child support payments can also assist in covering the costs of basic medical treatment, and even with additional costs of care such as dental and vision.
- Extracurricular activities: As they grow up, your child may wish to take part in activities such as sports and summer camps, and child support can help cover the costs of these endeavors.
Any child-related transportation expenses can also fall under an applicable use of child support. Since this can be a complex process, it might be in your best interests to pursue guidance early on.
Seeking advice
While you and the other parent may agree that providing the kids with financial support is imperative, agreeing on an amount for support can be challenging. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone, and by speaking with someone who is knowledgeable in Missouri state child support laws, you could gain a better understanding of what to expect from the process. This type of guidance could help you make informed decisions throughout the process and assist you in pursuing the best outcome possible concerning the future of your kids.
