Who Pays For School Supplies After a Divorce?

 Posted on August 29, 2022 in Family Law

As divorced parents all over Illinois prepare to send their children back to school, inflation has caused the prices of many school goods to increase substantially. When backpacks, pencils, and textbooks cost as much as 15 percent more than they did last year, even the basics can be hitting parents’ wallets hard. This might raise an awkward question: Who is responsible for paying for school supplies when parents are divorced?

Does Child Support Cover School Expenses?

During a divorce, appropriate child support payments are calculated using the Illinois income shares method. Using the incomes of both parents, the time each child spends with each parent, and each child’s legitimate needs, child support payments are set and cannot be changed without proving a substantial change in circumstances.

The everyday costs of raising a child are considered part of the child support equation. This includes clothes, food, extracurricular activities, and educational supplies. The parent who has the majority of parenting time should be receiving enough child support to cover the cost of school supplies each year.

This means that, while a parent paying child support must ensure the child is adequately cared for during their allocated parenting time, including having appropriate food, clothes, and other necessities in the parent’s home, that parent does not need to give more money for annual school supplies. He may do so if he wishes, but it is not obligatory.

Ex-spouses who get along reasonably well can communicate regarding their child’s needs and may want to come up with a division of one-time school expenses that feels fair without modifying the child support agreement. But if the existing child support order truly feels like it is not providing the receiving parent with the money he or she needs to care for the child, it may be necessary to petition a court for a payment modification. However, modifications are only granted when there has been a substantial change in circumstances. If the higher cost of living is causing a parent to struggle to provide for their child, high inflation may qualify as a substantial change of circumstances.

Contact an Experienced Team of Arlington Heights Divorce Attorneys

Even after your divorce has been finalized, you may have further complications that require the help of a responsive Arlington Heights divorce attorney. At A. Traub & Associates, we are here to help before, during, and after your divorce and can assist you with any modifications as well. Call us now at 847-749-4182 to schedule a comprehensive consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=6200000&SeqEnd=8675000

https://www.axios.com/2022/08/05/inflation-school-supplies-savings-tips