Child Support Agreements an Ever Changing Reality for Georgians
Posted on May 8, 2012 12:00am PDT
Couples in Georgia facing divorce will join many other Americans in hashing
out child support agreements. In the beginning, these agreements may seem
basic enough. A small child may not require much money to sustain a happy
life. But the complexities of modern life have given rise to important
considerations for supporting children of divorce.
As kids grow and change, so do their needs. Children take on new interests
and may become involved in increasing activities as they age. In addition,
they can develop medical disorders such as ADHD, which will not only cost
money, but may cause parents to disagree over treatment. Each change could
represent a change in child support needs.
One advisor notes the traditional gray areas in agreements often relate
to extra-curricular activities. In the modern world, it is not always
just what will be done, but how. For example, a summer camp through the
local YMCA may be cheap, but a similar camp through a private school could
cost exponentially more. Parents should agree on the parameters of these
obligations to avoid conflict, if possible.
For this reason, it may be advisable to renegotiate child support agreements
every few years to address the changing needs of aging children. Not only
can these agreements be modified years after divorce, they can address
both concerns of the individual child and societal changes.
For example, as kids near college, it may be prudent to review how the
parents are going to support the teenager. With skyrocketing tuition costs,
parents will want to stay up to date to avoid committing beyond their
financial abilities. Experienced divorce attorneys can help couples keep
tabs on their commitments.
While many other considerations can factor into child support agreements,
it is important that divorcing spouses in Georgia consider the long-term
effects of a child support agreement and work towards a resolution that
will satisfy all parties.