Child support is often a hot topic for divorced parents, as we understand at the Mayer Law Office, LLC. You may have trouble making ends meet even when you receive child support, and your ex might have a lot of opinions on how you should spend the money. Your ex may use the excuse that paying child support gives him or her the right to tell you what to use it for. However, you and other Wisconsin residents who receive child support have more freedom regarding the money than you may believe.
First off, you do not need to let your ex dictate your child support spending, no matter how intimidating he or she might be. As FindLaw explains, the court allows custodial parents to use their own judgment regarding child support funds. As you know, the money is meant for the well-being of your children, but you can decide how best to spend it for their benefit.
For example, you may decide to spend child support on their school supplies, clothing, class fees and extracurricular activities for the upcoming school year. Since it is important for your children to feel safe, secure and comfortable, you can also spend child support on your rent and utilities. You can also use it for food and household necessities.
Can I spend child support on a non-essential item, like a gift or movie tickets, you might wonder? Your children’s happiness is also an important part of their overall well-being; therefore, using a portion of your child support check on fun things for your kids can be considered an acceptable expense. Your only obligation regarding child support is to ensure your children’s basic needs are met, as our page explains.
