Child Support Lawyer in Raleigh, NC

The court may also consider extraordinary expenses which are defined in the Guidelines as including:

1. Uninsured medical expenses in excess of $100.00 per year;
2. Medical expenses for costs that are reasonably necessary for orthodontia, dental treatments, asthma treatments, physical therapy, and any uninsured chronic health problems;
3. Expense for attending any special or private elementary or secondary school to meet the particular educational needs of a child; or
4. Transportation expenses for the child to travel between the parents’ homes.

It is customary that the court will order the parties to share uninsured medical and dental expenses in the same proportions as their respective incomes. If you are anticipating orthodontic expenses, be certain to bring this to your attorney’s attention. So you are not fighting over the meaning of “dental expenses” when you are seeking help from the other parent in paying for orthodontic expenses.

Child Custody and Tax Laws

The tax laws provide that the parent with child custody is entitled to the dependency exemption of the child in connection with income tax returns unless the custodial parent waives such right. Our state courts have the discretion to require a custodial parent to give up the dependency exemption and to award it to the other parent. This is also relevant to deducting child care expenses. The party claiming the child is the one who claims the related child care expenses related to that child. Be sure to consult with your tax preparer or CPA with regard to these considerations.