WE CARE LEGAL SERVICES
(1-855-LAW-FAMILY)
Available 24/7 for Divorce, Child Custody, Support, Protection From Abuse, and Adoption Assistance.
www.WeCareLegalPa.com.
Always a free consultation.
By Jan Grossman, Esq.
Any parent who pays child support knows the conflict of being “asked” for additional funds from the primary custodian. These requests can be:
*Begging -“Please help I am really short this month.”
*Historic Guilt Inducing – “We wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn’t broken up our happy family.”
*Current Guilt Inducing – “You have plenty of money to go on vacation with your new _____ , but not for your own kids! (Fill in the blank from “girlfriend, “boyfriend” to “&#%#%&”). What kind of a horrible, selfish parent are you?”
*Emotional Blackmail – “If you don’t give me the extra cash, your kids will have to go to school with torn, raggedy clothes, no school supplies, and dry baloney sandwiches for lunch.”
*Your Child as Cash Collector Blackmail- “My Mom (or Dad) can’t afford to pay for my class trip. If you don’t give me the money, Mom (or Dad) says that you don’t love me.”
*Direct Threat – “You won’t see your kids again until I see an extra $200.”
At WE CARE LEGAL SERVICE, 1-855-LAW-FAMILY; we’ve seen it all and can advise you on how to deal with each of these mind games in a free initial consultation. But here are answers to the most often asked questions we get about requests for additional support beyond the Court-Ordered amount in Bucks County:
Fees for any athletics, gymnastics, karate, dance, etc. – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Costs of school supplies, clothes, school trips, proms, additional class materials, etc. – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Piercings, tattoos, elective cosmetic surgery (including sixteen-year-old boob jobs) – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Music, horseback, yoga, or any other “lessons” – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Vet bills for pets in the other parent’s home – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Boy Scout, Girl Scout Cub Scout, Brownie, 4H trips, fees and expenses- NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Religious fees, trips, contributions (not related directly schooling) – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Costs for religious events such as First Communions, Confirmations, Christenings, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Etc. NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY UNLESS AGREED TO IN A DIVORCE PROCEEDING.
Study Abroad, including summer classes in Paris, Rome, San Francisco or any other city outside of Bucks County – NO LEGAL OBLIGATION TO PAY
Tutoring fees – ONLY IF SPECIFICALLY IN PROVIDED FOR IN A COURT ORDER. A COURT IS LIKELY TO ORDER THAT THE PARENT PAYING SUPPORT PAY HIS/HER PROPORTIONATE SHARE IF THE SCHOOL AND/OR THE CHILD’S I.E.P. RECOMMENDS SUCH TUTOTRING.
Parochial School, Private School and Private Religious Schools fees and Expenses – ONLY IF SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR IN A COURT ORDER. A COURT IS LIKELY TO ORDER THAT THE PARENT PAYING SUPPORT PAY HIS/HER PROPORTIONATE SHARE IF THE CHILD WAS ENROLLED IN SUCH A SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE PARENTS’ SEPARATION AND THE COURT BELIEVES THAT THE PARENT PAYING THE SUPPORT CAN AFFORD TO PAY THEIR PROPORTIONATE SHARE.
Mental Health Care/Psychotherapy – ONLY IF SPECIFICALLY IN A COURT ORDER REQUIRING THAT THE PARENT PAYING SUPPORT PAY HIS/HER PROPORTIONATE SHARE.
Braces, Orthodontic Care, Dentist Recommended Cosmetic Dental Surgery – PARENT PAYING SUPPORT MUST PAY HIS/HER PROPORTIONATE SHARE AFTER A $250 ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE IS PAYED BY THE PRIMARY CUSTODIAL PARENT.
Medical, Dental, Prescriptions, Eye care – PARENT PAYING SUPPORT MUST PAY HIS/HER PROPORTIONATE SHARE AFTER A $250 ANNUAL DEDUCTIBLE IS PAYED BY THE PRIMARY CUSTODIAL PARENT.
At WE CARE LEGAL, 1-855-LAW-FAMILY, we are in Support Court almost every day protecting the rights of our clients. If you need your support raised or lowered, believe that your Ex is not paying their fair share, or if you are having trouble with support contempt issues, call us 24/7 for An immediate free consultation in our Levittown or Doylestown Offices. We are extremely sympathetic to legal financial issues and in our almost 30 years of experience, have seen virtually possible support problem. Though child support debt can never be eliminated through bankruptcy, please feel free to call 1-855-DEBT-DONE, to speak with our bankruptcy attorney to review your difficult financial situation.
Thank you for your continued “support” of our law firm.
