How the child support money should be spend?

Question

I have a really nice 9 years old stepdaughter, no problems with her. We share custody with her mother and she stays even time in each house counting that I pick her up every day after school since I'm available (I work nights) and we both save after school date care money (which we don't charged her mom for).

We pay promptly the child support, and we have to buy new clothing shoes and school items all the time because she rarely does.

We used o send My stepdaughter to school from my house and always have her lunch packed. But she changed schools now and takes de bus from her house and her mom never pack lunch for her and refuses to send money to the school cafeteria because she thinks we should take care of it.

Answer 1

All I can say is document everything your doing. Unfortunately the courts do not care what you are spending on the child, as long as she is getting taken care of. But if there is abuse going on at her mother's house that's a different story.

I thank god everyday I have custody of my two kids. Because shared custody is a joke. One person still pays the child support and the other seems to reap the benefits, no matter how the child is being treated. My kids mom has it made. I only asked for 100.00 dollars a month. The rest I take care of...Good Luck!

Answer 2

Sound like you do have 50/50 custody so you need to spend a little money to get in contact with your attorney and go back to court.  You should not be paying your ex ANY support money for a child you are sharing custody with jointly.  Your ex is required to raise your daughter also and in doing so needs to dig into their pocket as readily as you have been.  Child support is mainly for parents that bare the burden of raising a child and all the expenses associated with doing so.  If you are already buying all or most of her clothing and food as well as everything else, the ex is getting an awesome deal and free ride especially if they are playing games with not providing a packed lunch or money to purchase lunch.  Game playing needs to stop as well as the child support check.  Get your check book and receipts in order and go back to court.  You could take that money and help your daughter in a better way than you already are.  Good luck.

Answer 3

Child support money is a set amount meant to help cover the living expenses of the child.  Once the monies are paid to the custodial parent he or she is free to make decisions about how that money is spent.  If the non custodial parent feels the monies are not being spent for the care of the child, he or she is welcome to seek custody of the child.  The non custodial parent doesn't get to dictate how the child support funds are spent.

Answer 4

Having been threw that situation before  there is no governing factor to how the money or what the money is spent on

The overall expense's  is what is the factor

Meaning  rent elect gas food (even if there is no food in house) clothes (even if you buy them all )   it doesn't matter   because the fact is the money does not or is not accounted for.

It stinks at times  however its the child's best interest  and hopefully one of the parents understand that.

So don't make an issue out of it   especially in front of the kids  

it is a negative conversation and only distracts from  what should be quality time you have with the child

Really all that's important to let the child know   is you pay your support and more   and you would do more if and when needed

Always  project a positive thought process  about the other parent

even if you have to bit your lips

peace

best wishes

Answer 5

Well, if I were in your situation,I would take it to the courts. Let a Judge handle it. The Child Support that is being sent to the Mother is supposed to pay for things for the CHILD. If the Mother has no money to spend on the Child then she is obviously spending it on herself. I would let her know, the legal way....