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Who pays for a child’s extracurriculars after a divorce?

On Behalf of | Feb 24, 2023 | Family Law |

Even though Kentucky has standard guidelines for calculating child support, it is still a highly contested issue. It can become complicated if the parents do not understand the state’s policies, what they cover and what they don’t.

In calculating child support, the state considers:

  • Both parents’ income
  • The number of children
  • Other existing child support payment orders
  • Spousal support
  • Need for childcare and health insurance

These guidelines ensure that the parents understand their financial obligations towards their children.

Suppose a parent does not pay child support or not paid on time. In that case, the local and federal governments can become involved and impose penalties.

The Kentucky child support formula does not cover certain expenses, including uninsured medical expenses, private school tuition and extracurricular activities.

Best interests of the child

Kentucky law focuses on the child’s best interests when deciding custody and child support. There are no provisions for certain expenses (such as extracurricular activities).

Yet, judges expect parents to understand that it is in the child’s best interests to agree on how they will manage these matters. Parents should have the ability to communicate respectfully about their children.

Reasonable behavior

The same principle applies to expenses like birthday gifts, sports, entertainment, and anything else that the state child support calculator does not cover. Courts expect parents to be reasonable, and if they cannot reach an agreement on any of these matters, courts offer services to help them settle disputes, like mediation.

Divorce is a complicated process for the spouses as well as for the children. It is critical to understand that it is in the best interests of the child for the parents to show their children that they can work together to produce solutions that work for everyone involved.