Can I Demand Proof Where my Ex Spends the Child Support I Pay?

child support payments expenses

Can A Parent Request Accounting Of The Child Support Expenses?

This is a frequent question that I hear as a Dayton, Ohio, divorce lawyer. In Ohio, the short answer is “no” as long as the child’s basic needs are being taken care of. There are a few states (such as Washington) which allow for a parent to request an accounting of the child support expenditures.

In most states there is a common misconception that child support must be spent on things that ONLY benefit the child only. In Ohio, child support may be used to pay for a very broad range of expenses including:

  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Mortgage/rent of the home where the child lives
  • Utility bills, internet, cell phones
  • Medical expenses
  • Transportation and vehicle costs (including gas, auto insurance and car repairs)
  • Childcare/babysitters/camp costs/sports/extracurricular activities
  • School fees and supplies
  • Entertainment for the child
  • Any miscellaneous expenses that contribute to the general welfare of the child.
… View Full Article → “Can I Demand Proof Where my Ex Spends the Child Support I Pay?”

New Child Support Guidelines in Ohio Take Effect on March 28, 2019

child support new law parenting time

These Are The Changes To The New Law You Should Know About. But Does It Effect Child Support And Parenting Time?

On July 17, 2018, we first posted a LEGAL ALERT on the Ohio Family Law Blog about the passage of H.B. 366 which repealed the present Ohio child support schedule. Our current law has been in place for 25 years! Here is the link to that article.

The new law, which becomes effective on March 28, 2019, is quite complicated and a substantial change in many areas. Like many Ohio divorce lawyers, I am learning its implications and training staff with these changes. Our firm has installed the new specialized computer software needed to properly calculate child support. I have even compared a few scenarios with the schedules anyone can find online. I can tell you that those free schedules do NOT include certain adjustments that can dramatically affect the outcome.… View Full Article → “New Child Support Guidelines in Ohio Take Effect on March 28, 2019”

Ohio Law Will Overhaul the Entire Child Support System!

Alert Key Legal Update

New Reform Package BIll Will Change The Way Child Support Orders Are Calculated

Before June 29th, 2018, the state of Ohio’s formula used to calculate child support orders has not been reconfigured or changed since 1992. This has led to a massive amount (roughly more than a million dollars a year) of child support going uncollected and families in strife over trying to care for their children. Ohio House Bill 366 is a reform package that will change the way child support orders are calculated and is has just been signed by Governor Kasich. You might also hear it called Senate Bill 125, however it is the same bill as House Bill 366 with only minor technical changes that were made by the Senate.

For over a year, state Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, and state Rep. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, worked on this legislation. Beagle said child support reform is a complicated, emotional issue that eluded a fix for 25 plus years.… View Full Article → “Ohio Law Will Overhaul the Entire Child Support System!”

New Insurance Product to Guarantee Child and Spousal Support Payments During Unemployment

man with empty pockets

Often times when a couple divorces, a court will order one party to pay spousal support in Ohio and/or child support if there are minor children involved.  And while it can seem that every, last detail from property division, to health insurance and retirement benefits is hammered out in the final decree, there may be an area that is too often overlooked.

What happens if the party obligated to pay child or spousal support suddenly becomes unemployed?  Then what?

The Great American Insurance Group now offers Marital Settlement Agreement Insurance (“MSAI”), to insure divorce obligations during periods of unemployment.  The program, which has been 40 years in the making, was developed by Richard S. Zizian, J.D., of the Zizian Agency in San Diego, California.  It is now available in all states except Hawaii and Alaska.

Insurance Group Offers Spousal Support And Child Support Payments During Times Of Unemployment

In order to qualify, a person must be a full-time, W-2 wage earner.… View Full Article → “New Insurance Product to Guarantee Child and Spousal Support Payments During Unemployment”

Child Support and Visitation: Should One Be Dependent Upon The Other?

Should Child Support Payments And Visitation Rights Remain Independent Of Each Other In Ohio?

Recent New York Ruling Says Child Support And Visitation Are Linked And Dependent Upon One Another

As a general rule, the payment of child support and visitation are two completely, separate issues in the eyes of the Court.  Visitation rights are granted where it is in the “best interest of the child” to have such in place.  They are not dependent upon the amount or payment of child support.  Likewise, child support is determined according to the Child Support Guidelines and has very little to do with visitation.  As a result, paying child support does not entitle a parent to visitation.  And, if a parent has court-ordered visitation, it cannot be withheld because they have failed to pay their child support.   However, in a recent case out of New York, the Appeals Court there held that support payments should have been suspended where the child was not required to abide by the ordered visitation schedule.… View Full Article → “Child Support and Visitation: Should One Be Dependent Upon The Other?”

Child Support: Jackpot Earnings Can Be seized From Child Support

Casino Jackpot? Maybe Not. Another ‘Weapon’ for the Child Support Enforcement Agencies of Ohio

The State of Ohio has eighty-eight (88) counties and each county has a Child Support Enforcement Agency (“CSEA”) tasked with the collection of child support payments from Obligors (primarily Fathers and former Husbands). For many years, the Child Support Enforcement Agencies have been able to “intercept” Income Tax Refunds of Obligors having arrearages in their child Support Accounts.  Recently, a new “weapon” has been added to the arsenal of the Child Support Agencies.  They can now intercept racino or gambling winnings of Obligors who are behind with child support payments.

In an August 5, 2015 posting, it was reported that two (2) million dollars in unpaid child support had been “seized” from jackpot winners at the state’s casinos and racinos in the last eleven (11) months. (Caveat:  It appears that “deadbeat” Dads are also inclined to gamble!! … View Full Article → “Child Support: Jackpot Earnings Can Be seized From Child Support”

Child Study: Fathers In-Kind Support For Child

Recent Child Support Study Shows That We May Be Overlooking the In-Kind Support Low-Income, Non-Custodial Fathers Actually Provide

In a recent article published in The Journal of Marriage and Family, a study of the child support provided by approximately 400 low-income, non-residential fathers suggests that “in-kind” support, that is, support in the form of something other than money, is not typically considered even though it constitutes about one quarter of the total support given. Click here to read the in-kind support study,

Most courts only acknowledge formal or informal support provided (i.e. money paid either directly or indirectly to the mother). The authors of this study argue that many of these low-income fathers provide gifts, food, everyday essentials and services, yet are still labeled “dead-beat dads” because their in-kind support goes unseen by the child support system. As a result, the authors argue that policymakers cannot cure the issues within the system until they have an accurate picture of the situation.… View Full Article → “Child Study: Fathers In-Kind Support For Child”

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