What is Covered by Child Support?

You may have a lot of questions about how child support works, including “What is covered by child support in Connecticut?”  Many people mistakenly believe that child support is intended to cover more than just the basics.  It isn’t.  In a divorce with children, you want to make sure the right parenting plan is in place and that there are sufficient financial resources to care for your children.  That’s why understanding what child support covers is so vital.

Read on to learn more.

What is Covered By Child Support

Connecticut intends that the basic child support payment cover only the basics.  In other words, this includes shelter, food, and clothes.  As a practical matter, child support does not encompass all the types of expenses that parents incur raising a child.

Read: How Does CT Calculate Child Support?

What Doesn’t Child Support Cover?

In addition to the basic child support payment, the Connecticut Child Support Guidelines provide a formula for parents to share costs related to uninsured or unreimbursed medical expenses and work-related daycare expenses.

For many families, the costs of raising children exceed this.  For example, support under the Child Support Guidelines doesn’t contemplate things like sports, extracurricular activities, summer camps, private school tuition, computers, cell phones, tutors, SAT prep, college application fees, or pocket money.

Read: How Does Child Support Work in Connecticut?

How Do Parents Handle All the Expenses Child Support Doesn’t Cover?

Many parents either an upwards deviation to child support to address all these costs, or come up with a way to share these costs.  Sometimes parents reach a child support agreement via negotiation in litigation.

The process of reimbursing each either for these types of expenses, unfortunately, can create frustration and ill-will.  It’s important to do everything you can to foster solid, effective communication with your co-parent.

Mediation and collaborative divorce also allow the spouses and their team to come up with creative solutions and plans.  This creativity ensures the parents meet their children’s needs and reduces future disagreements.

Read: Do We Have to Follow the Connecticut Child Support Guidelines?

Next Steps

We hope this was a helpful explanation of what is covered by child support in Connecticut.  For more information about Connecticut divorce and family law, check out our Divorce Information and Facts. If you have questions or want to learn more about how our team of divorce attorneys can help you with your divorce or Post Judgment issue, please contact us either here or by phone at 860-530-4251.