Navigating Child Support and Extracurricular Expenses
So, you’re shelling out hundreds of dollars a month on your child’s sports activities. Shouldn’t this lower your child support? Hi, I’m Tulsa Dads.Law attorney Clint Hastings. I practice here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I focus on father’s rights, and I’ve been practicing for about 25 years.
Child Support Covers Basic Necessities
Now, this sounds logical—you’re paying a lot every month, you’re driving to and from practices, so why doesn’t that reduce your child support? The reason is that, under Oklahoma law, child support is meant for basic necessities: housing, food, utilities, transportation, clothing, and similar expenses. It’s not intended to cover extracurricular activities.
That doesn’t mean sports costs are ignored. Extracurriculars can be addressed separately by agreement or court order. For example, your decree or child support order can specify who pays for activities and how the costs are split. Sometimes that means a 50/50 split, or it may follow your proportionate share of income—for example, if you make 70% of the combined income and she makes 30%, you’d pay 70% of extracurricular costs.
Importance of Negotiating Terms Up Front
If you don’t include this provision in your original decree or order, it’s usually hard to add it later unless your ex agrees. That’s why it’s so important to negotiate these terms up front, either in divorce or paternity proceedings, so you don’t get stuck covering everything yourself.
Also, keep in mind that if she has sole legal custody, she may decide what sports or activities the child participates in. In that case, she could insist you cover all the costs if you want the child to participate.
Call Us for Legal Guidance
Give Tulsa child support attorney Clint Hastings a call at 918-962-0900 if you have questions about child support, extracurricular expenses, or any other family law issues. We’ll be glad to help.
