Who pays child support if the child lives with a third party?
Parents are duty-bound to pay for the cost of raising their children after a divorce or separation. These expenses, also called child support, make sure that the child’s basic needs are taken care of. This includes their food, housing, clothing, education and healthcare.
It is usually the parent who doesn’t live with the child most of the time that pays child support to the parent or guardian that does. According to Parenting Classes Online, approximately 4% of the total population in the US are custodial parents.
But sometimes, children don’t live with either parent and instead live with their other relatives, like grandparents or other trusted adults. So who pays child support for a child not living with either parent?
Let’s look at how child support works in these cases and who may be required to pay.
Understanding child support obligations
If you’re dealing with any child support issues, you need to know your responsibilities, especially if you’re the non-custodial parent. You’re not just financially supporting the child’s life; instead, you make sure that you contribute to the child’s upbringing.
Child support covers costs for food, clothes, a place to live, and directions for how to live in that place with the child. Laws and rules in different states can be very different from one another.
Divorce lawyer Johnathan L. Rhyne, Jr. says a divorce lawyer can assist in ensuring that child support agreements are fair, comprehensive, and legally binding, addressing all relevant expenses and protecting your rights and interests.
When a parent doesn’t do what they’re supposed to do and fails to pay child support, it harms the bond between the child and the non-custodial parent. The child’s sense of belonging may also be impacted if a parent fails to spend enough time with the child.
The role of third parties in child custody
While child custody is mainly between parents, other parties also come into play when deciding the actual arrangements. It might become crucial to have grandparents, relatives, or other trusted adults who can look after the child.
Close family friends stand in support of you in the custody process. These people might seriously help nurture a safe and loving environment for the child. The grandparents, friends, or close relatives serve as mediators and work at lessening hostility between parents and opening communication avenues.
They can solve the custody issue in a fair manner for the benefit of the child. You’ll feel more supported and the child will feel loved when you get help from people you trust. They will also feel like they belong and are safe during these tough times.
How custody arrangements affect financial responsibility
Custody orders have an important bearing on financial responsibility because they specify who has to pay for bringing up a child. Having primary custody may usually imply being responsible for many day-to-day expenditures.
But in cases when a third party cares for the child, the biological parents may have to pay, so it should be clarified beforehand to avoid conflict. Communication is crucial.
Talking about money and expenses instills in all parties a mutual feeling of belonging and cooperation. Knowing their responsibilities lightens the work and ensures the child’s care.
Promoting this willingness to work together makes things better for both the parents and the kid.
Legal options for third parties seeking support
Financial matters in custody arrangements often revolve around questions involving the support of third parties in the child’s life. If you have care of a minor and require financial support, you have legal remedies available.
You can either bring an action before the court to put forth child support against the biological parents, where you need to establish your role in the life of the child and the financial need of the child, or you may approach mediation to try to work out an agreement with the parents outside the court.
Establishing a rapport with the parents is often helpful in facilitating discussions on support issues. You could always retain a family law attorney who can explain your rights and options along with the best route to take so that you are able to face this issue confidently and create the best living situation possible for the child.
Modifying existing child support orders
If the situation changes, an existing child support order will need to be modified and adjusted to meet the putative or actual child support needs. Life is unpredictable, and the amount of child support could change for a lot of reasons, like if someone loses their job, gets a new job, or even moves out of state.
To begin the process of changing something, get some proof of your current and past financial situation, like pay stubs, bank records, or tax returns. Then file a request with the court explaining the basis for your modification request.
Both parties aim to meet a child’s needs while respecting their respective financial capabilities. Consulting with a legal expert can certainly guide you through this process and make you feel that you belong in your new circumstance.
