Addressing Miscellaneous Expenses in a Kansas Child Support Agreement

Child support calculations are designed to ensure that both parents contribute to the fundamental costs of raising a child, including basic living expenses such as food, housing, and routine medical care. Of course, mothers and fathers know that the actual costs associated with parenthood are much more varied and extensive. The Kansas child support guidelines recognize this and prompt parents to address a broad range of possibilities in order to avert future disputes over financial responsibilities that might otherwise be left unresolved.

Within the guidelines, Appendix V contains an Agreed Shared Expense Plan for costs that fall outside the scope of basic support, such as:

• Regular and special-event clothing — Children grow quickly, and obtaining clothes to keep pace can be very expensive. Keeping pace with fashion trends can add to the financial burden. Parents might want to create a system for shopping that covers both everyday clothes and items required for special occasions such as school dances, holidays, or formal events.
• School uniforms and supplies — Private-school tuition is not the only potential education-related expense. Many students require at least a couple sets of school uniforms. Furthermore, necessary supplies these days frequently go beyond pencils and notebooks to include calculators and laptop computers.
• Cell phones — Typically, young people get their first cell phone long before they reach adulthood. Along with the price of the phone, parents should also discuss who will pay for the plan, as well as insurance coverage and phone accessories.
• Extracurricular activities — Organized sports, clubs, performing arts and other activities can enrich a child’s development outside of the classroom. Depending on the specific activity and level of commitment, annual costs could run into the thousands of dollars or more.

Negotiating equitable terms for these and other ancillary expenses as part of a comprehensive child support order benefits parents and children alike. An experienced Kansas family law attorney can craft an arrangement that reflects your particular circumstances and goals.

The Henry Law Firm, P.A. has extensive experience handling child support matters for Kansas clients in and around Johnson County. Schedule an initial consultation with our Overland Park office by calling 913-381-5020 or contacting us online.