The difference between extras and essentials

On Behalf of | Mar 4, 2016 | Child Support |

One of the biggest points of contention between divorced parents, when considering child support, can often be the difference between extras and essentials.

It’s important to note that child support is typically aimed at just the essentials, the things that a child cannot live a healthy life without. This includes things like food and clothing. It could be used for standard medical care. These are all essentials..

However, parents often think it’s essential for a child to have many extras in life. This is only natural, as parents want their children to have the best lives that they can. However, for the purposes of child support, many things that may be considered important and necessary by one parent are actually looked at as extras, so they may not be covered. While they can be great things for children to have, they’re not technically necessary for a healthy life. Examples include:

— Private lessons, such as piano lessons or figure skating lessons.– Extracurricular activities, like joining the football team or the drama club.– Prom dresses and tuxedos.– Summer camps.– Spring break trips.– A private tutor.

These are just a few examples, and you can quickly see how important they are. You may really think it’s important for your child to have a tutor, for instance, so that he or she can get better grades and get into a better college. However, again, this is technically something that isn’t necessary for the child — no matter how important it is.

When disagreements arise over child support in Florida, make sure you know your rights.

Source: Huffington Post, “What Child Support Does Not Cover,” Natalie Gregg, accessed March 04, 2016

  • Avvo Rating  8.7 Mark Abzug Top Attorney
  • We Are a Featured Business in Our City eLocal.com

Contact Us Today