When it comes to child support, there can be a lot of gray areas that lead to confusion. But since you’re paying it and since it’s for your child’s well-being, you want to know what’s going on. By doing so, you can avoid falling for these common child support myths.
Child Support Myths: What’s The Truth?
“It Will Be Easy To Adjust”
One of the biggest child support myths is that it will be easy to adjust the payment if anything changes. For instance, if you lose your job and take a pay cut. Likewise, if the other parents gets a raise. Since these were the factors that determined your payment amount, if they change, your support payment should change. But most people believe it will be an easy process to change them and that is not the case. In most cases, you’ll have to go back to court, re-submit detailed information and paperwork, then sign countless documents. So the process can take a while. Therefore, if anything changes, you should be proactive and start the process of adjustment.
“As a dad, I Can’t Expect Support”
For the most part, the child support system relies on the old family structures, such as the dad being the sole breadwinner. But today, there are many partnerships in which the other person–no matter the gender–makes just as much or more. But many dads can’t get over the feeling that they can’t or shouldn’t ask for child support. However, if you are the primary or joint care-giver–you have every right.
“They Have to Spend My Support on My Kid”
One of the biggest child support myths is the idea that the parent can only the spend money on the child. In reality, the money is for the child’s well-being. Outside of that parameter, a parent can justify spending it any way. For instance, they may be able to justify using it for gas in order to get the child to school. However, that should mean that the child has basic needs met like food, clothing, and other essentials. If you feel that you are constantly having to purchase those for your child, that could mean your ex isn’t using the support correctly.
In short, believing these child support myths may prevent you from getting or giving the support needed. Which only hurts your child so watch out for these common myths.
