Hi,
My daughter goes to her dads 3 weeks during the summer. When she is with me I pay for her summer camp costs. Should I pay for summer camp costs while she is with her Dad or is that his responsibility? Currently, he pays child support but just went about 4 months w/out paying. So, since he is paying child support do I continue to pay summer camp?
As of right now I am because I don't want to start a war (and believe me it would if I said I wasn't paying) - but just curious if I'm being the "bigger person" by doing this or am I required to do so? Our child support order/divorce papers do not state who is to pay for what while she's in his care.
He should be responsible when she is with him. That is how it is stated in my decree as well. He does have to continue to pay me child support during the summer (which I save up for school supplies and school clothes) but each parent is responsible for the cost of childcare when the child(ren) are in their care. You are being the bigger person and I am sure he is aware of that. Good luck! :)
Your required to follow the court order, since there is nothing that stipulates this then you should discuss it. What if you each pay 1/2?
IMO If he only has her for 3 weeks during the summer, he should be using his vacation time to spend it with her. He should be paying for the summer camp.
Mine asked judge if he could not pay child support during his visit and that I actually pay HIM child support. The judge made clear to my husband that he had to maintain a room, clothes, furniture, equipment for when my daughter visited him. That all costs incurred during the visit were his responsibilty, except medical we would split as usual. You are the bigger person.
In my world whoever has the child pays for child care. I think it is just confusing in your case because I assume you have the kids during the weekdays so you are used to paying for all the child care out of his support.
I guess this comes down to was child care costs figured into the support amount, in my case it wasn't. I could have claimed a need for child care and it would have increased my child support check.
If the support amount included his portion of child care costs then you at least need to put that amount in. Like if costs are $100 and he pays $50 of that in support you should still pay half the costs. If the support figured $100 and he pays $100 then you should pay it all. Clear as mud?
Oh Tracy brings up a good point, sorta, when the kids are with him your costs decrease big time! I think you may open a can of worms if you don't just pay it. Well unless he doesn't pay you support when he has the kids.
You have just made my parenting plan seem simple by comparison and that thing gives me a headache. :(
I assume this camp is something you sign her up for during the summer, and something that was not discussed in the court order. If so, neither of you are "required" to pay for a summer camp unless it is written into your court order (and you say it is not).
So, I guess you could say you are being the "bigger person" by paying, as your daughter gets the benefit of the camp when she is with you.
If you want him to pay for the camp for the 3 weeks your daughter is with him, ask him to pay. Given your post, it doesn't seem likely he will agree. Plus, you say he is (or has been) behind on his court ordered child support payments, what makes you think he will pay or be current regarding camp?
Contact your attorney (please tell me you have one) and have the attorney file the necessary paperwork (or advise you otherwise) to ask the judge to order him to pay. Unless and until the judge orders him to pay for the camp, he is not required to do so. Your best bet is to try working it out with your ex directly and not involving the courts. Courts really do hate parenting other people's children.
Best wishes.
Depends on what your court order says. If it doesn't spell it out, you should be able to discuss it with him. I personally think he should pay for it because it is basically childcare during his visitation..if you don't pay for camp while she's with him, he can't take her....what would he do with her during the day?
