How child support can be used by custodial parents

Raising a child is a huge responsibility that not everyone may be ready for when it happens. Despite parents not being ready to have a child, they must contribute in a number of different ways to the child’s life before and after they are born. If two parents are no longer together, one parent may be asked to contribute by paying child support.

Child support is a great way for a parent to help raise their child. In many cases, one parent may have sole custody while the other has visitation. The parent who has visitation, or the noncustodial parent, will likely have to pay child support. After the courts decide how much that amount will be, the custodial parent will then start to receive these payments. When the custodial parent receives these monthly payments, they have a number of options as to how they can spend this money on the child.

If parents believe the child support should be spent on medical care, food, clothing, education and shelter, they are right. These are all things that a child will need as they grow, so it is acceptable for a parent to use this money for such things. While the courts will not typically monitor how child support money will be spent, it is advisable to put the money toward expenses related to the child.

Taking care of a child is not easy, and no one should have to do it alone. If you have a child and plan to request child support from the other parent, you may want to speak to an attorney, as they may be able to assist you with the process. Your child deserves to be supported financially by both parents and child support can make that happen.