Child support is intended to cover a wide range of expenses and parents should be familiar with what those expenses are. Parents may also have questions about child support expenses once their child is ready to attend college and if those payments will cover college expenses.
What expenses is child support intended to cover?
Child support, and what types of expenses it is intended to cover, is helpful for both paying parents and recipient parents to have a careful understanding of. Child support payments are intended to cover expenses including:
- Basic necessities such as food, clothing and shelter;
- Medical care;
- Childcare;
- Educational fees;
- Transportation costs;
- Extracurricular activities and entertainment; and
- College expenses in some cases.
Does child support cover college expenses?
It is important to negotiate college expenses during the divorce settlement agreement because if the divorcing couple fails to do so, they will need to try to address it later and how it is addressed may depend on the state. In Ohio, the payment of college expenses is not generally required unless parents agree to it.
If the couple agrees to the payment of child support expenses, the family law court will enforce the agreement. In circumstances when the family law court will order the payment of college expenses, a variety of different factors may be considered.
Can I modify my child support order?
Generally, a child support modification may be requested, and granted, based on a significant change in circumstances for the parents or the child. Because college expenses can be considered a form of child support, they may also be subject to a modification or other actions taken by the family law court.
Child support is designed to ensure the financial support of the child following divorce. It covers a range of expenses and because college may be one of them, couples should address college expenses during their divorce.