When people think of child support, they think of regular cash payments from the non-custodial parent to the other. This is not always the case, with 2.7 million custodial parents receiving child support in the form of goods and services in 2021 rather than cash payments. These goods and services came in the form of things like groceries and clothes for the children.
Some couples consider using different methods for paying or receiving child support. For many, this is because child support arrangements are contested topics that can lead to vitriol and issues between both parents. This vitriol can be avoided for some people by considering the different ways that child support can be paid. But is this legal? Can goods and services count towards child support rather than pure cash/check support?
If you are unfamiliar with the different types of child support arrangements available to you, the family law attorneys at C. Alvarez Law can help you.
Different Types of Child Support Arrangements
Child support arrangements can vary based on the needs and circumstances of the family. Here are the main types of child support arrangements:
- Court-Ordered Child Support: This is the most common arrangement where there is a monetary amount that one parent pays to another. This amount is determined by a judge based on state guidelines, parental income, and the child’s needs. You can use this arrangement after a divorce or separation proceeding.
- Voluntary Agreements: Parents can come to a mutual agreement where they set the amount of child support and the avenue in which it is paid without going to court.. These agreements do have to be formalized through a legal process so they are enforced.
- Temporary Child Support: Parents can agree or a court can order one parent to pay child support while a divorce or custody case is still ongoing. This makes sure that the child’s needs are met at all times.
These arrangements are designed to ensure that the financial needs of the child are met, regardless of the parents’ living situations. These types of child support arrangements may seem rather similar and vague. This is why some couples believe they can substitute cash with goods and services, but is this allowed?
Can Goods and Services Substitute Child Support Payments?
The truth is that while none of these three types specify that a parent has to pay a monetary amount, the law does. Goods and services such as food, clothes, and more cannot substitute child support.
If you and your spouse are trying to or planning to substitute goods and services for child support, you can both be in legal trouble, particularly the paying spouse. Whether or not the court actively tracks you cannot necessarily be predicted, but they have several ways of enforcing and tracking child support that they may utilize at their discretion.
Contact the Family Law Attorneys at C. Alvarez For Help Creating Your Child Support Arrangement
If you and your spouse don’t want a child support arrangement based on monetary payments, the compassionate family law attorneys at C. Alvarez Law can help you create a more agreeable arrangement that leaves more room for you both to complete your child’s needs.
Family courts have the best intentions; they want to provide your children with what’s best. The truth is that in most cases, it is the parents who know and understand their children’s needs better than strangers. To make sure your wishes are best respected, contact our family law attorneys for help and schedule a consultation.
C. Alvarez Law
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