Arizona’s child support laws are, for the most part, pretty straightforward. Although certain aspects of divorce are negotiable or aren’t always necessary, divorcing parents can generally assume that child support payments will be included in their settlement.
When parents are approaching divorce, they will certainly want to understand what kind of child support is needed or how much they will owe every month. According to Arizona guidelines for support, the incomes of both parents and the needs of the children are accounted for when calculating how much child support is given. Of course, parents can make specific requests to be covered for certain expenses related to child care, which can be negotiated.
One thing that parents might consider negotiating is whether or not child support payments will include compensation for after-school and extra-curricular activities. Being involved in these programs can be a very important part of a child’s development and happiness, particularly if they are already involved in any activities at the time of divorce.
Thankfully, the state of Arizona just rolled out a program that could help divorcing parents determine the necessity and costs of after-school programs. An organization released a set of standards for extra-curricular activities, which makes Arizona the 34th state to do so.
Keeping in mind that parents only want the best for their children, having a specific set of standards for after-school activities can ensure that children benefit from any given activity. In addition, this can provide assurances to the parent paying child support that they are truly helping the child grow.
Extra-curricular activities are only one consideration to make during child support negotiations. This is why parents can help their children by thoughtfully approaching child support talks.
Source: AZDailySun.com, “Statewide standards help parents judge quality after-school programs,” Michelle McManimon, Oct. 24, 2013
