Do Gifts and Expensive Purchases For My Child Offset My Monthly Child Support Amount Owed?
The answer to this common question is a simple, no. When it comes to child support, what you are ordered to pay, is what you are responsible for paying each month, regardless of additional purchases or expenses you incur related to your child.
All child support orders that have been ordered by the court include mandatory monthly payments that do not, and will not change unless legally modified by the court. Therefore, should a parent purchase gifts/presents, pay for extracurricular activities, or contribute financially in any other way, they choose to do so in addition to their ordered child custody payments. These expenses do not offset the amount ordered in a child support.
It is important to continue to make the full payments up until the point you go to court and specifically modify the child support order. Keep in mind that if you violate a child support order, you will be penalized for money that you have not paid, and those arrears, as they are called, can accumulate quite quickly. You may even end up owing more money than you otherwise would be.
If you have questions about Child Support, or any other Family Law topic, do not hesitation to contact our office to schedule a consultation. Our team would be happy to discuss your options as they relate to your specific situation. Our office can be reached at (702) 998-1188, info@ljlawlv.com, or by scheduling a consultation online.
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