On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in support on Wednesday, June 10, 2020.
The short answer to the above question is yes, you can spend child support money on your children’s entertainment. In fact, as FindLaw explains, you can spend the child support money you receive from your former spouse virtually any way you want to as long as it benefits your children and you first provide for their basic needs.
The court assumes that you are a financially responsible adult who knows better than anyone else what your kids need and want. Consequently, it will not monitor your spending habits. Nor will it require you to keep detailed financial records of your child support expenditures.
Basic needs
One of the easiest ways for you to keep track generally of the child support money you spend on your children’s basic needs is to take a percentage approach to your monthly household expenses. For instance, if you have two children who live with you, they represent two-thirds of the household bills you pay for the following:
- Mortgage or rent payment and insurance
- Utility bills
- Groceries
- Phone and internet service
- Car payment and insurance
- Home and car repair and maintenance expenses
Child-specific expenses
Naturally, any money you spend on each of your children individually represents a valid child support outlay. Clothing, shoes, and school- or daycare-related expenses fall into this category. But do not forget that your children also deserve recreational opportunities such as participation in sports or music activities, occasional trips to the movies, the amusement park, etc., summer camps and/or vacations with you. Do not allow anyone to make you feel guilty about spending child support money for such things.
