in addition to child support?

[startingfromscratch]

Is it standard to ask for 1/2 of other payments for the child, like 1/2 of medical co-pays, extracurriculars, etc? I think I read where the law says that is included in child support, but I have also read here where several people have it stated in the divorce decree.

[TC]

My decree stipulated those were to be shared 50/50 above and beyond normal CS.

TC

[livealittle]

my decree states child support plus one half of my out of pocket medical expenses - nothing about extra curriculars.

of course collecting it is another story.

[m_t]

It depends on the state. Some states tack on co-pays, child care, etc after CS is calculated. Others include those expenses in the calculation.

[livealittle]

It depends on the state. Some states tack on co-pays, child care, etc after CS is calculated. Others include those expenses in the calculation.

which really doesn't make sense.  If your kid goes to the doctor once a year or 15 times in a year that's a huge difference in co-pays and $.  My kids were sick a lot when they were younger - like 30 infections/5 surgeries before they were 6 years old.  In the past 3 years, my kids have hardly been sick at all, yet we've had some dental and eye glasses expenses not covered by insurance.  And then there's the emergency care such as if your kid breaks his arm sliding into home plate in a baseball game - $6000 out of pocket not covered by insurance. 

how can that be included in the calculations?  no one knows what it's going to be.



If you get a choice, I vote for "child support plus one half of medical out of pockets paid within 30 days of submitting the bill to the x."  or something like that.

[startingfromscratch]

Thank you all.  I am going to ask for the expenses above and beyond CS.  It is true that there is no way to predict how often or little medical expenses would occur, so it should not be considered as part of the calculation.  My STBX would not have to worry about large expenses, as my insurance is fantastic.  Co-pays and lab fees would be all.

[InDenial]

My state (PA) says that basic child support includes
  1) an amount from a table
  2) medical expenses including insurance, subject to a deductible
  3) child care expenses

The basic child support is then divided by the parties according to their relative incomes. So if STBX and I make equal amounts, everything is split evenly. IBut if I make 90% to his 10%, I pay 90%.

The medical deductible is typically $250 per child per year.

My STBX and I have also agreed that we will split extra-curriculars, subject to a $250 deductible per child. In the case of extra curriculars we are splitting it 50/50 rather than by income shares. We've also agreed that neither party has to pay a share for extra-curriculars they don't approve of. My state doesn't require this, but his lawyer told him that it is "standard" to split extra-curriculars. I offered the deductible to make it more palatable.

All of the above will be in our divorce decree.

[startingfromscratch]

InDenial, I really like the idea of the deductible and the non-agreement on activities clause.  I think that my husband would find that very reasonable, if he were to originally balk at the idea of paying for these.  I think that the Alabama laws mirror the PA laws on this, which I was I was asking how so many people got it in spite of that.