Getting More Child Support for Your Children

Getting More Child Support for Your Children

Posted to by Maryann Kelly on Sun, 12/06/2009 - 8:24am

 In most cases, child support does not cover even half of the costs of raising a child properly. It leaves a huge gap for the mother to fill financially, and often the child suffers while the mom is filled with resentment. School resources are so scarce that most American families today are hiring tutors and need to pay for their child's sports activities as these are cut from the school budget. The courts do not consider these costs and it leaves the mom to either live with the substandard education or scramble to get financial aid or make extra money.

Admittedly, this is one area I need help in. I am so focused on making my own money and fully disengaging from my ex financially that I never think about asking him to contribute to the kids' activities and extra curriculum. I just assume he is broke and that I am on my own.

But I am making a big mistake. In fact we have a meeting on Tuesday (just the two of us) to discuss the summer activities and the developmental activities for next school year. I am going to ask him to contribute to these activities and participate more financially in their development.

I believe it takes patience and humility to sit down with your ex and go over the details of the extra costs associated with properly raising children. Of course it will be the rare dad that jumps in and offers to pay for these with enthusiasm and joy, but it can lead to them taking a bigger interest in their development and a willingness to contribute more financially. You will not know until you try and it might take a few meetings. But even if it results in just one dad helping more, my article will have been worth it.

It might take several meetings before he is willing to go into his own pocket, but you will never know unless you ask. Start by getting him invested in the process and activity. Start by helping him understand the benefit of the activity and then ask for his contributing once he sees the worth of it and feels vested in it.
 

Click the following to return a directory of articles and resource videos on Kids, Family and Divorce.

Comments

stay strong

WOW i cannot believe the previous comments. I completely agree with you, that child support does not cover enough. All we want is the best for our children and I can at least speak from my own experience that my childs father sees that as me trying to get money... for myself?? The reality is that he is unable to care for a child, has made no attempt to, will not even pitch in extra for a winter coat. The support i get pays for basics. There is not enough for childcare, food, and transportation let alone anything else a two year old might need. I am in a constant state of stress because I am not able to provide for my child and I am exhausting my mother's resources. Meanwhile, he is driving a luxury vehicle, buying more than enough food, expensive clothes, and provisions for entertainment. I need a job but I have had little luck and now Im a semester away from graduating college but Im broke! Child support bases support off of the last job you held. But I cannot hold a full time job now because I am in college! The system is a little messed up.

To beat him in court

You are trash. You are ignorant. You have no grasp of the English language. Please jump off a bridge and save the rest of us the cost of your welfare.

Rare Dad-huh? Oh really? In

Rare Dad-huh? Oh really? In my case I supported the costs of the family home for 2 years during seperation While she diddled around with her boyfriend. I negotiated Catholic school costs and $300/month Dance Lessons for my oldest daughter. She paid her failed business debt down as mine climbed and I paid for 2 households, as well as remodeling the rental property I lived in. Now, after the settlement of $1350 month Child Support, $1200/ Month property settlement, she askes for more money? During mediation (failed) we established that the costs (not including house payment) for our 2 kids was below $1000 month. She wouldn't do 50-50 custody-so she could get more support and with the costs established she obviously doesn't contribute anything to the kids from her own income. BTW-My situation post divorce,between business debt and personal-$125,000 on a $70,000 gross income

I commend you sir. All to

I commend you sir. All to often we don't hear that to the men who are truly dragged through the dirt by women who are just greedy. All to often we hear about the women who complain but the men are silent about the situations that the women take them through. What happened to you was unfare and the Justice system is not fare. I am a mother of a divorced family and I think it's unfortunate that these situations that "majority" of men go through are not heard.

beat him in court

just get that deadbeat in court. dey will make him pay

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