Caring for a child after divorce is not an easy proposition. Single parents are solely responsible for childcare, duties they could previously divide with the other parent, and must bear the burden of financing a household on one income. These challenges form the basis for why child support is such an essential source of income for custodial parents. Raising a child is financially overwhelming for couples who stay together due to the rising costs of living and expenses associated with extracurricular activities that children are expected to do. These stressors are even higher for parents who primarily go it alone. Knowing which expenses are included in child support calculations can help custodial parents determine when and how to allocate this money to costs related to raising their child.

A recent decision by the Indiana Supreme Court clarified one expense that divorced parents do not have to fund – graduate school. Indiana is in the minority among the states in that it requires divorced parents to pay for education expenses even after the child becomes a legal adult. In this case, the court determined the applicable law did not extend to graduate school, and noted that while divorced parents could agree to pay costs associated with advanced degrees, they are not legally obligated to do so. Because there are expenses that can be included as a part of child support beyond those needed for basic necessities, an overview of what the law recognizes as costs that a non-custodial parent must contribute to will follow below.

Medical Costs

Indiana law requires one or both parents to provide medical support to their children through the purchase of health insurance coverage. There is a presumption that the cost of health insurance is reasonable, and if a parent wants to dispute that assumption, he or she must present evidence to the contrary. Examples of evidence that would rebut this presumption include a certificate from the federal government granting the parent an exemption from the requirement to have health insurance or evidence that the parent’s income is below the federal threshold for filing income tax returns. Courts will typically require the parent able to obtain the most comprehensive health insurance plan at the lowest cost to pay for coverage. Additionally, the custodial parent is responsible for 6% of ordinary medical costs not covered by insurance ($546 annually), and costs above this amount should be equally apportioned between the parents according to income.

Education Expenses

As noted above, divorced parents can be ordered to pay the expense of higher education for their child. In addition, education expenses for non-public elementary and high schools are also costs a court can order the parents to pay. When deciding if such a support obligation is appropriate, a judge looks at the following factors:

• The child’s aptitude and ability;
• The child’s ability to pay for his/her education expenses through loans, financial aid, and work; and
• The financial ability of each parent to bear these costs.

Work-Related Child Care Costs

Costs related to child care incurred by a parent due to employment obligations or active job searches may also be added to the basic child support obligation. Eligible child care costs are those that come from sitters or daycare facilities used while the parent is working or actively looking for a job. The costs must be reasonable and are limited to those necessary to provide adequate and quality care for the child. As with other expenses, this cost is divided between the parents according to income.

Contact a Lawyer

Determining how much child support a parent will have to pay is a complicated process that is dependent on a number of factors. Talking with a knowledgeable family law attorney will give you a better idea about how much you can expect to pay so you do not ended up surprised. Family law attorney Christopher L. Arrington helps clients in the Indianapolis area with a wide range of family law issues, and he can help you with your case. Contact him to schedule an appointment.