Why Should You Pay Child Support for a Child You Cannot See

The custodial parent in a custody case is moving from Oregon to Oklahoma. The father cannot afford to travel to Oklahoma to see the child, or to get tickets to have the child fly back for visitation. Why should he be ordered to pay support if he can no longer see his child?

Child support is for the benefit of the child -- and you have a legal duty to support your child even if it is difficult or impossible to exercise visitation.

The father does have options. He can ask that the parent who is creating the distance be required to pay part, most or all of the cost of transportation for visitation. He can ask the court to modify his child support obligation, with a downward modification that takes into consideration the costs he will incur in order to be able to see the child once the custodial parent moves. He should also seek modification of the parenting time schedule, so that a long-distance schedule is in effect.