Child support seems like it should be straightforward. You help create a child, so you should be responsible for that child’s support and care—at least until they reach adulthood. However, when parents are not together, they often disagree about the nature and amount of child support. Custodial parents understand that supporting a child involves putting a roof over their head, paying utilities, having a safe means of transportation, and more. Non-custodial parents may pay child support and then see their children going without, making them wonder how the custodial parent is spending that support.

Understanding the purpose of child support, how it should be used, and the realistic costs of raising a child can help people understand realistic child support expectations. Whether you are a custodial parent seeking enforcement or a non-custodial parent seeking modification, a Fort Mitchell child support lawyer at Busald Funk Zevely can help. Call now to discuss your case with one of our seasoned family law attorneys.

The Purposes of Child Support

Some parents who pay child support erroneously believe that child support should go directly to the child. That is an unrealistic perspective. When parents raise a child together, they both use their resources to build a home for and care for that child. When parents split up, the obligation to take care of the child remains the same. The costs associated with raising a child also stay the same. It is illogical to think that child support should go directly to the child. It is equally illogical to think that custodial parents should only use child support on items directly used to support the child, like that child’s food or clothing.

Providing a home for a child means paying rent and utilities, preferably in a good location that gives the child access to good schools and other resources. If the child travels in a vehicle, the vehicle needs to be safe and reliable. It covers furnishings for the home, care for a child’s pets, streaming services or mobile devices, and other things that are a routine part of the modern home.

While a parent paying child support is unrealistic to think that support payments should only go directly to the child, the parent receiving child support payments should be using the money to support the child. Parents should not divert resources away from their children to pay for their own things. Non-custodial parents often get very frustrated when they see their children going without, while the custodial parent appears to have luxuries and spend lots of money.

One role of a Fort Mitchell child support attorney is to help each parent understand the actual costs of raising a child. In Kentucky, the estimated cost to raise a child is almost $20,000 a year. That is roughly $1,600 a month per child, which would seem to lead to at least $800 a month per child in directed support payments. While high earners may pay that amount, many parents pay only a small percentage of that amount due to a lack of resources.

Calculating Child Support in Kentucky

Generally, the parent who spends less time with a child will pay child support to the parent who spends more time with the child. However, the court has discretion to make different child support orders. To establish child support obligations, a Fort Mitchell court will look at the income of both parents, custody agreements, the family’s current standard of living, and more.

Some non-custodial parents may try to avoid their child support obligations through voluntary underemployment or unemployment. When the courts believe that a parent is doing that, they can order child support based on potential income instead.

Talk to a Fort Mitchell Child Support Attorney About Your Legal Options

Child support orders, modification, and enforcement are some of the most contentious areas in family law. Custodial parents and children usually suffer a decline in the standard of living after a breakup, while non-custodial parents usually experience an increase in the standard of living. No wonder exes continue to fight about child support long after they split.

If you are in a dispute about child support, it may be impossible to reach an amicable agreement without legal assistance. Schedule a consultation with a Fort Mitchell child support lawyer at Busald Funk Zevely to learn how they can help resolve your child support disputes.

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