When child support is awarded to one parent, it is not unusual for each parent to assume that it may only be used when supplying their child with clothes, food and shelter. With these items being necessities, it is easy to see why parents may be under the impression that certain items should not be purchased with money that is supposed to be for taking care of the child. What people don’t know is that there are many things that these payments could cover that parents may not think to use child support money to purchase.
Along with the basic necessities, money received for child support can cover the following:
- Medical care.
- Transportation.
- Education expenses.
- Child care.
- Entertainment.
Clothes, food and shelter are all important things that child support is often used for, but there is more that goes into taking care of a child. Certain expenses, including travel and entertainment, may not seem necessary, but courts may feel as though your child deserves to enjoy television, movies and other forms of entertainment. This means that it is OK for child support to be spent on entertainment, as well as anything else the courts or the parents may feel is necessary. As long as the child’s needs are being met on a daily basis and he or she is being properly cared for, money from child support can be spent on various things.
Those seeking to obtain child support from their child’s other parent may find it beneficial to speak to an attorney. There are family law attorneys who are knowledgeable and may be familiar with these types of cases, so they may be able to guide you in through the process.
