What do you think? (child support question)?

Question

Both mom and dad have joint custody of the child. The dad pays child support and the child resides with the mom. When school starts should the dad buy all the school clothes on top of the money he pays, or should the mom use the child support money to buy the clothes since after all it is intended for the childs needs?

Answer 1

Use the child support as intended, for the child's needs. I agree with an earlier poster, it shouldn't matter who pays to get the school supplies, just as long as they are provided.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I think that THe child support money is helping the child anyway because it is giving the mom some extra cash..I remember I was watching some talk show and they were saying that as long as the money is going to that mom she should feel free to do whatever she chooses because it is in the end helping wheather it's from her pocket or his..it balances out either way. As long as the child is getting what he needs, that;s all that is important.

I hope this makes sense..

Answer 3

The mom should use it to buy clothes for the children.

Answer 4

I think that the mom should buy the majority of the items, but maybe you could compromise... she buys the winter clothes and most of the school supplies... while you guys buy the summer clothes or she buys all the clothes while you guys get the school supplies. I think you are doing a great thing trying to prevent another argument. I think if I received support for my son, I would probably still expect his dad to take him shopping for some stuff... just to build the memory of doing it. It wouldn't have to be a lot, but I think it would be fun for both of them. Good luck!!

Answer 5

If there is a battle then they should both buy some things. You don't have to spend $60 for one pair of shoes to get nice ones, especially since were talking about a small child getting ready to start school. I buy my kids nice clothes and shoes and usually get his shoes for around $25. Even less than that at Old Navy and those shoes are so cute! I would guess that those clothes aren't getting lost but maybe the mom feels she should keep them at her house since the child lives with her. Also remember kids are hard on clothes and play hard and rip things and play in the mud and dirt.  I guess It really should be her buying the majority (not all) of his clothing since he pays child support but If there will be a fight he could just say up front that he will either spend X amount toward it or buy him a certain number of outfits toward his school clothes.

Answer 6

mom should use the money-its what its for... but dad could take the child shopping for a few things like a backpack and shoes

Answer 7

I say the mom should use it to buy the clothes cause thats what it's for.

Answer 8

Child support is for the bills that come with having a child.  Child lives with mom so the child support pays for 1/2 of all of the child's uses in that home, including rent/mortgage, water bill, electric bill, cable bill, phone bill, internet bill, heating and sewer bill.  BOTH parent should be responsible for contributing to any of the child's school needs.

Answer 9

Well, that is an age old question.. who should buy what

I'd say that raising a child is expensive and the child support should pay for the childs living expences. like food shelter, and clothes bought during the school year... however, I also believe that when a new year begins a child should have one pair of shoes, and 2 pairs of new pants along with a few shirts and the price should be split. We as parents go over board for school clothes.  So my idea is give the mom an extra 50.00 and tell her to shop wisely and kick the rest in.

Answer 10

The mom should use the money and purchase the clothes.. Of course, sometimes there are extra costs involved and if the parents get along okay, maybe they will be able to work something out and she could be given a little extra money for this occasion. It all depends.

But technically, the father is doing what he is obliged to do. My opinion is that  the mother should step in there and cover the costs.. but like I said before, it all depends on their situation. Maybe he won't  mind doing more than he's required to do?

//EDIT// Read your second edit, and you brought up an issue that I was afraid might have been possible when I first read this question... I know quite a few mother's who receive child support and have things get "lost" or whatnot.. and it's been proven that they don't use the money in appropriate ways and instead will buy things for themselves or actually even steal things from the child and keep them/sell them/give them away. It's screwed up. Not saying that his mom's doing anything like that, but I guess there's no real way of knowing, huh (although I must say that things getting "lost" all the time is suspicious.)

And what do you do? Do you take a chance and send money to a woman who will not use it in good ways, or do you not send extra money and have the child suffer? I'm with you, it would probably be best if the kid lived with you guys, but unfortunately, that's not how it is.. I suggest you and your husband weigh the pros and cons of the situation or do some brainstorming of what can be done so that the child will get what he needs, with minimal cons.

I hope things work out for you guys and your step son.

Answer 11

You are not REQUIRED to, however you can if you choose.  The idea is that his support money is supposed to be for his share of things like the child's clothes, school fees etc.  And for all those butts out there, I know it takes more to raise a child than just that, & the child should get the benfit of financial help from both parents.  BUT, in cases where the parents don't get along things get rough & tricky.  Anything we buy for my husbands son who does not live with us, stays at our house, lest the boy never see it again.  His mom sells the things we buy for him or gives them to his older brother who is not my husbands son.  So I do see you point and warryness.  You could kinda meet in the middle, buy one or two "cheaper" outfits for school, that way you know he will have at least something.  Or go to the school & pay the fees yourself so that you're not giving the money to her to do what she wants with then have her tell you the school fees need paid.  What we do is put money on his son's school lunch card that way we know he'll have lunch money & mom can't touch it.  There are ways around it if you want to go above & beyond.  Hope that helped.

Answer 12

Been there, done that.  We paid the child-support and bought all school supplies because the child needed them, and the mother said she couldn't afford it.  The most important thing to us was that our son have everything he needed, it didn't matter who bought it.