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Child Support & Children’s Expenses

December 8, 2017

This Week’s Blog by Amanda K. Rieben

Many clients come to our office from towns in Fairfield County wondering which children’s expenses they will be required to contribute toward as part of their child support obligation. While the Court may order both parents to contribute toward certain children’s expenses, there are some children’s expenses which parents are statutorily required to contribute toward, whereas there are other children’s expenses which are entirely discretionary.

The Court has the authority pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-84, to establish a schedule and an amount of child support to be awarded, including a percentage contribution by the parents toward certain children’s expenses.  Specifically, Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-84, provides that “subsequent to the annulment or dissolution of any marriage or the entry of a decree of legal separation or divorce, the parents of a minor child of the marriage, shall maintain the child according to their respective abilities, if the child is in need of maintenance.” In determining whether a child is in need of maintenance and, if in need, the respective abilities of the parents to provide such maintenance, the court shall consider the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, estate, vocational skills and employability of each of the parents and of the child.  The Court shall also consider each parent’s earning capacity and the child’s education status.

While the Court’s authority to award child support is governed by Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-84, the schedule and amount of child support to be awarded are determined by the Child Support Guidelines in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-215(a). The Connecticut Child Support Guidelines include a worksheet and instructions for determining the amount of weekly child support owed by the parents up to a combined net weekly income of $4,000.  In addition to a weekly amount of child support, parents are also obligated to contribute a certain percentage toward unreimbursed medical expenses, as well as child care. Parents are also obligated pursuant to statute to provide health insurance for any child whom the Court deems is in need of maintenance.  However, parents are not statutorily required to contribute toward many children’s expenses, such as sports and/or music activities, sports equipment, musical instruments, camps, tutoring, SAT prep courses, or driving classes.  Additionally, parents are not statutorily required to contribute toward certain educational expenses like private school tuition (other than college in certain circumstances) and uniforms.

Although, a parent is not statutorily required to contribute toward the aforementioned child related expenses, the Court has the discretion to order for either or both parents to make financial contributions toward these expenses. In making a determination as to whether such an order is appropriate, the Court will consider the §46b-84 statutory factors discussed above.  The Court will also consider several other factors which may include how long the child has been engaged in the activity and/or enrolled in the school, whether one or both of the parents as a child was ever enrolled in the school and/or activity, the emotional impact on the child, the child’s best interests, and the financial impact on the parents. If a Court ultimately determines that the parents shall contribute toward a child related expense, the percentage is often consistent with the percentages the parents are required to contribute toward unreimbursed medical and child care expenses pursuant to the Connecticut Child Support Guidelines.  However, this is not always the case. In some instances a Court may direct one parent to be solely responsible or responsible for a disproportionate share of a child related expense, depending whose decision it was to continue to enroll the child in that extracurricular activity and/or school.

At Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie LLC we recognize the financial constraints that a pending divorce can pose on both parents, and the effects that this can in turn have on their children. We understand the multitude of factors considered by a Court in establishing a child support order, and we are adept at helping and advising our clients how to financially plan for their children’s future.

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