| Child support payments are one of the most | | | | water bill, the electricity bill, the gas bill, and even the |
| important parts of any divorce agreement. These | | | | telephone bill. |
| support payments are used for a wide variety of | | | | - The money required for sanitation of the child. |
| expenses that go along with raising children: clothes, | | | | - Food for the child. |
| school needs, water, electricity, and rent. Therefore, | | | | - Clothes for the child. |
| it's important to get the right amount of money for | | | | - Various incidental expenses, ranging from school |
| your children when you're working out the divorce | | | | supplies to gasoline needed to drive the children |
| settlement. | | | | places. |
| Because the safe rearing of children is important to | | | | Some states also take into account the standard of |
| the government, there are federal laws in place to | | | | living of the child. That is, if a child is used to an |
| protect how child support is determined. Under these | | | | extravagant lifestyle, more money is required in child |
| laws, the states are required to establish guidelines | | | | support. Some states allow the following to be |
| that detail how much money is to be paid in support | | | | covered by the support payments: |
| payments. These guidelines ensure that there is | | | | - The costs of higher education. |
| standardization amongst all courts in a given state, | | | | - The costs of extracurricular activities. |
| and that children and their custodial parents are not | | | | - Private school enrollment. |
| being unfairly deprived of money. | | | | - Medical expenses not covered by insurance. |
| The Guidelines | | | | - The costs of prescription medication. |
| Because the federal laws on the subject require the | | | | Under no circumstances can the money go towards |
| states to establish their own laws concerning child | | | | the following: |
| support payments, there are minor variations from | | | | - Gifts for the child. |
| jurisdiction to jurisdiction concerning what expenses | | | | - Family vacations. |
| are covered, how much a non-custodial is expected | | | | - Allowance |
| to pay for certain things, etc. However, most states | | | | - The lifestyle of the parent or the parent's new |
| recognize that these payments cover the following | | | | spouse. |
| items: | | | | Parents who abuse their child's support payments can |
| - The child's share of the rent or mortgage. | | | | find themselves in very serious trouble with the |
| - The child's share of the utility bills, such as the | | | | government. |