Tuition on top of Support

[brbement]

What is the name of your state? FLORIDA

I have a four year old son whom I have 50/50 custody of.
I see him one week on and off.
I pay my ex-wife 500 dollars monthly for the two weeks
he is there.
We have recently enrolled him into a private school K-12, instead of a public school.
My ex-wife verbally agreed that there was no need for more money on my part that the 500 would cover the two weeks at her home and 1/2 of tuition I would pay.
Now she is saying she wants 220 dollars more for the 1/2 of tuition on top of the 500 for support.
Firstly 500 for support for two weeks is more than ample.

SO, my question is, should I pay the increase, take her back for a reduction in my monthly support payment, or even go for full custody.

I was ordered to pay the 500 monthly. There is nothing that warrents any increase by her. The monthly payment of the school wil be 450, each paying half, I am saying my half needs to be taken out of the 500 that she currently gets.

 

[stealth2]

Full custody seems to be an extreme reaction.

I'm assuming you were ordered to pay CS because your income is significantly higher? What would be the change in circumstance that you feel warrants an modification of the CS?

As for private school... since the both of you apparently chose to send the child there, it is entirely possible that a judge will require you to contribute to the tuition. Although I probably wouldn't do so w/o a court order.

 

[VeronicaGia]

Do not pay without a court order telling you to pay. Why does a four year old need private school?

 

[brbement]

Do not pay without a court order telling you to pay. Why does a four year old need private school?

The 500 is paid with a court order
He is going to private school from Kindergarted to 12th grade.
Its a better education then the public schools in our area, she also agreed to it verbally and now wants 500 plus the 1/2 of tuition.

 

[Pfaffing85690]

Firstly 500 for support for two weeks is more than ample.

Really? Then you live in a dream world.

O.K. then if you agreed to it get it in the amended order of support with language that stipulates she is to pay the tuition and you are to reimburse her 1/2 upon verified reciepts being sent to you.

Either do the above or face losing in court.

 

[brbement]

Really? Then you live in a dream world.

O.K. then if you agreed to it get it in the amended order of support with language that stipulates she is to pay the tuition and you are to reimburse her 1/2 upon verified reciepts being sent to you.

Either do the above or face losing in court.

Dream world??
500 used to be for the whole month, then it got switched to
1 week on and off schedule and there was no change in the
support. So, I never fought to get it reduced when it should have
therefore she has no right to ask for more. I am not asking for opinions, I am aksing for help and advice.
Thanks

 

[Pfaffing85690]

No, you're asking for someone to agree with you.

Sorry, but where children are concerned, I don't give a rat's ass about adults.

You said in your post that you agreed to put the child in a private school. Regardless of the merits of such at his age, your agreement was above and beyond the existing support order.

Therefore, be ready to go to court and lose.

 

[stealth2]

That may or may not make a difference. Since you didn't seem to feel it was important to ask for a decrease, you may not be granted one now. And a judge MAY feel that if you agree with the need for private school, you can help pay for it.

But really - did it never occur to you that that "little" detail might have some bearing to the situation? Yet then you get all huffy. Sheesh.

 

[SockGirl]

shared income model

If your state has a shared income model there should be child support forms you can fill out to see what your "fair share" really is by standard guidelines.

Don't forget to include the tuition in there as extraordinary expenses - there is no question that is exactly what it is. Once you have those facts in hand you can then make a determination of what you might expect to see as your fair share rather than your gut feeling about what you think is fair. a judge wont care what you think is fair only what the guidelines say is fair.

 

[Pfaffing85690]

If your state has a shared income model there should be child support forms you can fill out to see what your "fair share" really is by standard guidelines.

The only problem with that SockGirl is that these are simply Guidelines. An existing order trumps any guideline. Therefore, unless the order is amended (and it WILL be ) the current order stands.

 

[stealth2]

the current order stands.

Which means that he does not currently have to pay tuition. Tho, since the child isn't 5 yet, there's plenty of time for Mom to file to have it modified to include that expense. And I can almost guarantee she will.

 

[Bloomer]

Dream world??
500 used to be for the whole month, then it got switched to
1 week on and off schedule and there was no change in the
support. So, I never fought to get it reduced when it should have
therefore she has no right to ask for more. I am not asking for opinions, I am aksing for help and advice.
Thanks

The change in custodail time with each parent is more than enough of a change of circumstances to warrant the support to be modified. File for a modification or request that CSE modify the order and have the new child support order address educational costs and how they are to be divided and paid by the parties. Do not pay anything extra or more until the case is reviewed and the change is court ordered.

 

[lsut1ger]

I second that Bloomer.

CS is not alimony...if both parties are equally sharing in the physical care of the child, then the child support should reflect this.

 

[stealth2]

Depends on how long ago the change in schedule occured.

 

[SockGirl]

Pfaffing85690 agreed

I agree Pfaffing...was just saying that before he lets his self riteousness regarding what he deems a fair amount - perhaps he should revisit what a fair amount per the guidelines would be before deciding whether to begin a war or be amicable.