Child Support Add-Ons

The child support calculator takes into consideration each parent’s life circumstances, their ability to pay, and is, in general, considered to be thorough and accurate. However, the parent receiving child support can ask for additional adjustments called add-ons. These add-ons are any costs or expenses not accounted for by the child support calculator.

Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, parents are typically expected to pay for child support add-ons equally. A 50/50 split of these expenses may not be reasonable if one parent makes significantly more money than the other, and the court will consider this and other factors in determining the percentage each parent will pay.
 

Mandatory Add-Ons

Some child support add-ons are mandatory to allow the receiving parent to maintain basic life functioning and pursue financial stability. A common such add-on is the cost of childcare to allow a parent to work or attend school. Another is uninsured healthcare costs for the child. The court must include mandatory add-ons in the amount of child support and only has discretion in determining the amount.
 

Discretionary Add-Ons

Other child support add-ons, such as costs associated with the child’s education, extracurricular activities, or special needs, are considered discretionary. The court will consider whether these costs are valid and necessary before adding them to the amount of child support. The court will also consider whether the parents will have actually enough money to maintain these expenses after the divorce.

In general, the custodial parent is expected to keep the child’s costs as low as possible. However, the court will take into consideration discretionary expenses that are of particular benefit to the child, especially with respect to education and developmental support. This may include private school, counseling, or tutoring. Due to high costs, parents usually sacrifice private school after a divorce.

Other discretionary add-ons that may be factored into child support are things like sports, clubs, recreation, and other extracurricular activities that enrich the child’s life. There may also be costs associated with travel to visit the non-custodial parent, although these costs are generally incurred directly by the non-custodial parent.
 

How Are They Paid?

Child support add-ons can be paid in the following ways:

• Added to the monthly child support payment to be paid automatically.
• Paid directly to the provider or organization that provides the service.
• Paid to the receiving parent on an as-needed basis for costs that fluctuate month to month.

If you feel the child support formula does not take into consideration certain factors unique to your situation, we can help you sort out the details and determine a fair and appropriate amount.