Daycare expenses are considered to be work related and since both parents have an equal right to work, daycare is typically split equally between them.
But at what point I daycare no longer needed and payment for daycare ends? Daycare costs can be very high, especially for an infant, but as the non-custodial parent how do you keep daycare expenses in-line, how do you change them as the child grows older and how do you know when they end? These are questions that don't typically occur to most parents to ask when they draw up their initial custody agreement.
But they are questions that should be addressed.
With most custody agreements the terms you agree to are the terms you are saddled with until you file a new motion to get the terms changed or until the child is of maturity.
So unless you want to pay infant daycare expenses for a teenager who is driving, you will probably want to file a motion.
In order to file a motion you need to show a substantial change of circumstances has occurred.
Some valid changes are: · Non-custodial parent has lost a job · Non-custodial parent has a loss of income · Non-custodial parent has suffered an illness and can no longer afford to contribute · The child has matured beyond the need for daycare Now that you have established your cause to file a motion you will want to include your reason for filing and your suggested resolution.
In addition to your resolution you might also want to include dates when the amount will drop based on age and then include a cutoff date for daycare all together.
This way there are no surprises and you can plan for the future.
So the answer is you don't need to pay infant rate daycare costs and you don't need to pay daycare forever.
But if you can't get agreement then you will need to file a motion to have the court hear you case and help find a resolution.