Child maintenance is a payment made by one parent to the other to help cover the cost of raising a child. The amount of child maintenance is determined by a court or through an agreement between the parents. The following are some of the expenses that child maintenance may cover:
-
Food: Child support may be used to purchase groceries, snacks, beverages, and other food items.
-
Shelter: Child support may be used for payment of the mortgage or rent for the child’s home, as well as utility bills for the child’s primary residence.
-
Clothing: Child support may be used to purchase shoes, jackets, and appropriate clothing.
-
Transportation: Child support may be used for basic transportation costs, including gas, car maintenance, and insurance for the car used to transport the child.
-
Medical care: In most cases, parents are required to have some form of health insurance for the child. In some cases, child support can be used to cover medical expenses that are not covered by insurance.
-
Education: Child support may be used to cover tuition and other expenses associated with schooling, including books, tutors, application fees, and school uniforms.
-
Childcare: Child support may be used to cover the cost of childcare expenses, including daycare, nannies, babysitters, summer camps, and after-school programs.
It is important to note that child support is meant to cover the "normal" expenses associated with raising a child. If co-parents disagree about non-essential expenses for their children, the parent who feels more strongly about the purchase may simply have to pay for it themselves.
