Dividing Childcare Expenses in Divorce or Separation
Divorces and separations are often complex, especially when children are involved. You can never quite plan for every twist and turn. Support obligations and figuring out how to split childcare expenses requires communication and strategy to lessen disputes.
Here are some common ways parents may choose to divide childcare expenses:
- The Income Share Formula
Each parent pays a share of childcare costs based on their income, usually 50/50 if custody is evenly split and the parents have similar financial resources.
Many courts use this simple model and will assign each parent the responsibility to cover a percentage of their overall income that is representative of what previously went into childcare costs, thereby coming up with the full amount for child support.
- A/B Expense Division
Another solution is dividing childcare costs into two groups. For example, A and B, and assigning a percentage of what each parent is to pay for each group.
Let’s say that “A” expenses are regular and recurring costs of day-to-day living expenses. “B” category expenses, then, are non-regular costs..
This model requires former partners to cooperate and frequently interact. This may be a viable option for some partners, but it might not work for high-conflict divorces or separations.
- Percentage of Income Model
A set percentage of income is set aside for child support, regardless of what the income of the custodial parent might be. For example, even if the custodial parent is fully capable of meeting all of their child’s needs with no support whatsoever – the non-custodial parent’s support obligation remains the same. The idea behind this is that the child deserves support and involvement from both parents.
California Law
In California, the courts will always work to ensure that the child’s best interest is served, and that their needs are met. So long as that goal is accomplished, parents can fairly safely presume that if they come to an agreement on how support obligations will be divided, the court will acquiesce to their arrangement.
If parents cannot agree on a suitable arrangement outside of court, the court will order the split of childcare costs. For help in maneuvering through your own child support case, contact experienced legal counsel.
Contact Cardwell Steigerwald Young, LLP
Contact the knowledgeable San Francisco child support attorneys at Cardwell Steigerwald Young, LLP to discuss your own child support case.
Sources:
stylecaster.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/1393974/nick-cannon-child-support/
childsupport.ca.gov/customer-connect/
