California parents feel financial pinch from childcare

California is a great state to live in. But unfortunately, as parents of preschoolers can attest, it can also be a very expensive state in which to raise children. And more and more, parents are having to make tough financial choices when trying to find and pay for acceptable childcare.

A study conducted among 640 California parents who had children that were five years of age and younger revealed just how much money went toward childcare. In fact, 31 percent of parents residing in Los Angeles said that preschool and childcare represented one of their biggest expenses. But on the bright side, the vast majority of the parents surveyed believed the quality of care their children received was worth the money being paid.

But as hard as it can be to make ends meet with two parents in a household, it can be so much more difficult for a single parent. Single parents often must shoulder the day-to-day responsibilities of raising children while also holding down a job. And their childcare options are often limited because they absolutely must find someplace they can afford to care for their children while they are at work.

So clearly, child support can play a huge role in helping a single parent get the best daycare accommodations possible. So, if you are in the process of divorcing and you will be your child’s custodial parent, you want to make sure that your support terms will provide the money you need to help cover childcare expenses.

An experienced family law attorney can help you negotiate a child support agreement that accounts for childcare and other important expenses.