Can the Child Support Arrears Go to Adult Child Instead of Custodial Parent

[kelly711]

My question involves child support in the State of: Texas

Does an 18 year old child have any right to child support arrears being paid by the father? My husbands daughter was kicked out of her mother's house and wants to know if she has a right to receive the arrears payments instead of them going to her mother.

[Dogmatique]

Nope.

Child support is never for the child.

It's meant to reimburse the custodial parent for costs incurred raising the child.

[cbg]

Don't know where so many kids get the idea that they're entitled to receive money that by its very name is designated for their SUPPORT. Did they pay the rent, the electric bill, the gas bill, the water bill, the taxes? No? So why should they get the money?

[Lawrence084]

Nope.
It's meant to reimburse the custodial parent for costs incurred raising the child.

You use that explanation quite a bit. Is that what child support really means?

re·im·burse (rm-bûrs)
tr.v. re·im·bursed, re·im·burs·ing, re·im·burs·es
1. To repay (money spent); refund.
2. To pay back or compensate (another party) for money spent or losses incurred

If so, shouldn't the system has some form of proof it was spent on the child?

I am just asking...If it is something you made up or is it the actual definition? I am sure that if it is the actual definition it was something that was made up a very long time ago when women didn't work and the amount of child support was so low that is can only go toward reimbursement.

[Dogmatique]

You use that explanation quite a bit. Is that what child support really means?

re·im·burse (rm-bûrs)
tr.v. re·im·bursed, re·im·burs·ing, re·im·burs·es
1. To repay (money spent); refund.
2. To pay back or compensate (another party) for money spent or losses incurred

If so, shouldn't the system has some form of proof it was spent on the child?

Is the child housed? Fed? Clothed?

That's proof that the custodial parent is financially contributing to the child's welfare. In other words, supporting the child.

I am just asking...If it is something you made up or is it the actual definition? I am sure that if it is the actual definition it was something that was made up a very long time ago when women didn't work and the amount of child support was so low that is can only go toward reimbursement.

Um....ok.

The custodial parent deserves to be reimbursed (however the court/CSA deems appropriate) - per your definition too - for the costs of housing, feeding, clothing the child.

I'm missing your point. Maybe you could clarify.

[Lawrence084]

I wasn't questioning what child support money is used for, I was wondering if it is actually defined as "reimbursement".

[Dogmatique]

I wasn't questioning what child support money is used for, but if it is actually defined as "reimbursement".

CP generally pays up front and/or ongoing 100% of child rearing costs. Things like housing, utilities, etc. Food. Clothing.

NCP pays child support to reimburse - compensate, repay - CP for NCP's portion.

I'm not trying to be obtuse here - but you're making no sense whatsoever.

Am I missing your question?

[Lawrence084]

Don't know where so many kids get the idea that they're entitled to receive money that by its very name is designated for their SUPPORT. Did they pay the rent, the electric bill, the gas bill, the water bill, the taxes? No? So why should they get the money?

Just out of curiosity how much more $money$ is spent living alone verse having a child, using the examples you have stated.

1. Rent
2. Electric Bill
3. Gas Bill
4. Water Bill
5. Taxes?????????? (Depending on how much you make, claiming a child should cover #1 thru 4). This is the first I learn that raising a child increase your taxes. Might want to get a new accountant.

CP generally pays up front and/or ongoing 100% of child rearing costs. Things like housing, utilities, etc. Food. Clothing.

NCP pays child support to reimburse - compensate, repay - CP for NCP's portion.

I'm not trying to be obtuse here - but you're making no sense whatsoever.

Am I missing your question?

yes, you missing my point. I was just wondering if the word itself "Reimbursement" is used to define child support or is it a word that you are using to define it.

[Dogmatique]

Lawrence seriously - what exactly is your point?

Would you prefer to post your own thread in the CS or "debate the issues" forum?

You're lucky tonight. Seeing as I have my one glass of wine for the evening, I'll take a shot at what you asked of cbg.

1. A child-less person would be able to live happily in a 1-bedroom apartment. With a child? Yeap, you can do it for awhile in a 1-room, but eventually you're going to need a 2-bed. In this area, the difference between a 1- and 2- bed apartment varies between $300-600/month.

So, we'll call it $400. Fair enough?

2. Extra laundry, cooking etc - let's say...another 30% of your power bill. In this area, we'll call that an extra 50/month.

3. Natural gas is dirt cheap here for some reason. It'd be a negligible difference.

4. Water - you really don't want to go there. Extra water for bathing, laundry etc - in this area you're talking about a difference of at least $50 month.

So that's another $50.

What exactly is your point?

I haven't even started to include extra food, clothing, gas, etc....we'll call that a straight $500 month extra.

Do the math.

[Lawrence084]

Lawrence seriously - what exactly is your point?

Would you prefer to post your own thread in the CS or "debate the issues" forum?

You're lucky tonight. Seeing as I have my one glass of wine for the evening, I'll take a shot at what you asked of cbg.

1. A child-less person would be able to live happily in a 1-bedroom apartment. With a child? Yeap, you can do it for awhile in a 1-room, but eventually you're going to need a 2-bed. In this area, the difference between a 1- and 2- bed apartment varies between $300-600/month.

So, we'll call it $400. Fair enough?

2. Extra laundry, cooking etc - let's say...another 30% of your power bill. In this area, we'll call that an extra 50/month.

3. Natural gas is dirt cheap here for some reason. It'd be a negligible difference.

4. Water - you really don't want to go there. Extra water for bathing, laundry etc - in this area you're talking about a difference of at least $50 month.

So that's another $50.

What exactly is your point?

I haven't even started to include extra food, clothing, gas, etc....we'll call that a straight $500 month extra.

Do the math.

Ahhhhhhhhhh............Okay let forget about the reimbursement question. All I wanted to know if I could use that comment "Child support is for reimburse the CP" or not. I can't use it if it is something that you made up in your own words, but if it is the official definition then I can. That all. I wasn't trying to debate anything. I just wanted for my own personal knowledge of the definition of Child support.

Now the second part... It really was directed for the person I quoted, because they seem to make a statement that gave the impression that a lot is spent on a child using really bad examples. And you took it past the point by adding your own examples. Which happen to be 100% correct, but the person who created the post didn't list them.

My point was Rent, Gas & Electric, Water, taxes (which I have no idea why taxes is listed) is really not that much, when you have to already pay for those items anyway. Once you receive the tax refund for have a child, the increase is really little. Now I am only talking about the examples she listed. You are 100% correct there are factors she didn't list that is more toward the child support. But increase in Rent, Gas & Electric and water is very minimal, once the refund is applied toward them. That was my point there.

You also took the high end. Most apartments, water is included. Laundry is coin operated and most single people I know live alone in two bedroom apartment, house or townhouse with more than one bedroom. If you can only live in a one bedroom, most likely water is include and coin operated washing machine and dryer.

Wine sounds good.....