As you may have discovered, few single parents have little to no issues regarding child support. Finances can be difficult for both custodial and non-custodial parents, and your ex-spouse may be feeling bitter about paying child support. However, does this mean your ex can demand to see receipts and tell you what to spend the money on? You and other parents in Virginia who receive child support may have an interest in learning the answer.
According to FindLaw, child support spending is up to the discretion of the receiving parent for children’s physical and emotional well-being. Therefore, the first things you are likely to spend child support on may include food, clothing and school supplies. Necessities involving shelter, such as rent, utility bills and household items, fall under the use of child support. You may also spend child support on doctor visit co-pays, over-the-counter medicine and prescriptions.
You are not limited, however, to the basics with child support, despite what your ex tells you. You could also spend it on things that give your children happy memories, emotional comfort and future security, such as the following:
- Movie tickets and restaurant meals
- Birthday presents and holiday gifts
- A weekend camping trip or an outing to a theme park
- Music or dance lessons, hobbies and private school tuition
- A future college fund account or savings for an emergency
It may give you peace of mind to know that you have more freedom and discretion to spend child support than your ex is informing you. Additionally, you should not have to worry about the court stepping in to dictate your child support spending when you do your best to ensure your children are safe, secure, healthy and happy.