After the approximate guideline amount is determined, other items may be added to the base support amount. For example, in many states, the costs of medical or dental care, uniforms, letter jackets, hobby and sports equipment, school tuition, school lunches, and violin lessons can be added. The more expenses the receiving parent can honestly verify, the more in child support he or she should be able to receive.
Often, certain expenses that trigger the adjustments to child support are not referenced in the state guidelines, rather, they are found in the state’s previous family law rulings. This is where an attorney, who is well versed in child support claims may be helpful. Legal representation can get costly, though. There comes a point where any benefits gained through additional legal representation may be outweighed by the cost of such representation. Do the math.
The amount of time each parent spends with his or her child may affect the base figure. A parent who spends more time with the child is naturally likely to incur greater expenses. That's why it is generally the non-custodial parent who makes child support payments to the custodial parent.
The number of children has a less than one-to-one effect on child support calculations. The actual amount of support per child is generally lower as the number of children in common increases. That's because certain fixed or basic expenses such as shelter and transportation do not change with the number of children for whom support must be provided.
Childcare expenses are often shared by both parents. Each benefits from the ability to earn a living, and the child benefits, as well, from the greater combined income. Costs are usually split evenly, with the parent who actually pays the childcare provider receiving payment from the other parent or, in some cases, each parent making separate payments directly to the care provider.
Special circumstances may exist that require a greater amount of child support to be paid: extraordinary medical expenses; special educational needs; travel expenses for child visitation; uninsured catastrophic losses; even the cost of basic living expenses for children from another relationship. If the non-custodial parent is footing the bill for these special expenses, they can serve as a deviation from the child support owed (reduce the regular support amount)! The non-custodial parent will have to provide proof of the expenses by using billing statements, credit card receipts, etc.
With so many factors entering into the equation, some states have approved computer programs designed specifically for determining child support amounts. Relative to other methods, use of such a program provides an objective way to stick to the mandated guidelines.
Regardless of the child support calculation method, guideline child support can be influenced (sometimes greatly) by every fact or family circumstance. For that reason, a lawyer's professional advice is especially valuable for a parent on either side of a child support order. Good advice will pay dividends every month.
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