Extraordinary Expenses and Child Support

[coloradomommy]

My question involves child support in the State of: Colorado
I have 2 children who reside with me and have visitation with their dad. He recently moved to a town 5 hours from here. Until the move we had 50/50 visitation schedule. He paid child support and we split all the other expenses in half; athletic fees, school supplies, filed trips, class fees, medical expenses etc. Everything that did not directly relate to their needs at our homes. Now that he moved he pays more and refuses to pay for any of the extra curricular activities that we have shared for the past 7 years. Is he still responsible for these expenses? I don't believe that child support is meant to cover these type of things, and he has set the presidence of paying half of all this stuff for 7 years. Even this year after the move he paid half a summer class for our son and half our daughters marching band fee but refuses to help with football registration and all our daughters high school stuff (yearbook athletic fees lessons, clarinet care etc.) Thanks

[queenie2]

It depends on what your court order says. Did you have it modified when he moved? Was the issue of extracurriculars addressed? If it's not spelled out, then he doesn't have to pay until ordered to do so.

[coloradomommy]

There is nothing in the original paperwork, but in the modification it says that all agreed upon extraordinary expenses would be shared equally by both parents. The problem is he doesn't think anything is extraordinary and it should all be covered by child support. It is my understanding that CS is for the day to day living needs of the children.. food, housing, personal items. Not school and sport activities. Again, in the past we split all of these activities, lessons, etc in half

[Xena]

There is nothing in the original paperwork, but in the modification it says that all agreed upon extraordinary expenses would be shared equally by both parents. The problem is he doesn't think anything is extraordinary and it should all be covered by child support. It is my understanding that CS is for the day to day living needs of the children.. food, housing, personal items. Not school and sport activities. Again, in the past we split all of these activities, lessons, etc in half

If that is the way the order is worded, it's too vague to be able to file for contempt. The only thing you can do is file for a modification to have the order more specific about what the exraordinary expenses are.