Wiliams Divorce & Family Law Logo

NOT SURE IF WE CAN HELP?Request your free 30 minute consultOR CALL US AT 651-332-7650

  • Home
  • Our Staff
    • Attorney Gerald O. Williams
    • Paralegal Jocelyn Daul
  • Practice Areas
    • Alimony
    • Child Custody
    • Child Support
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Divorce
    • International Custody
    • Interstate Custody
    • LGBTQIA+ Divorce & Custody
    • Mediation
  • Billing
    • Billing FAQ
    • Flat Fee Divorce
    • Flat Fee Mediation
  • Blog
  • Courts
    • Dakota County Family Courts
    • Hennepin County Family Court
    • Ramsey County Family Courts
    • Washington County Family Court
  • Clients
    • Make Payment
    • Secure File Upload
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Directions to Williams Divorce and Family Law
    • Privacy Policy

Orthodontia Costs and Child Support

Posted by Gerald Williams 
· January 20, 2010 
· No Comments

If a parent is ordered to pay child support, it is likely that the child support obligation will include a “basic” support obligation, coupled with child care support and medical support. Orthodontia costs are included as part of medical support. Basic support is based upon the income of both parents, based upon a statutory table (similar to income tax tables). But the child care support and medical support are allocated between the parents based upon each parent’s percentage of income.

For instance, a parent whose income comprises sixty percent (60%) of the combined income of the parents (after payment of spousal maintenance, if any) will be responsible for sixty percent (60%) of the child care expenses and medical expenses.

The rationale for the special treatment of child care support and medical expenses is (a) for some children, parents incur child care expenses and for some, they do not; therefore, it would not work out for the same statutory table to be used for both families that do, and those that do not, incur child care costs; and (b) medical expenses (and the insurance coverage thereof) are unpredictable, and variable across families; therefore, it also would not work out for the same table to apply to all families regardless of their medical costs.

Since orthodontic expenses are sometimes elective and/or optional, there is the potential for disputes between parents about whether or not to incur orthodontic expenses. Parents who share joint legal custody share the authority to decide on orthodontia for their children. That is not to say that either parent has veto power over the expenditure of funds on orthodontic care. A family court or parenting neutral charged with the authority to decide the dispute will issue a decision based upon all facts and circumstances, with a focus on what is in the child’s best interests.

No Comments
Categories : Child Support
Previous Post →
← Next Post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Summary Real Estate Disposition Judgment
  • Custody Evaluations
  • In Camera Interviews of Children
  • Guardians Ad Litem
  • Certificate of Dissolution

Categories

  • Alimony / Spousal Maintenance (8)
  • Child Custody (42)
  • Child Support (21)
  • Co-parenting (1)
  • Court of Appeals (2)
  • Divorce (45)
  • Financial Issues (2)
  • General Family Law (53)
  • Guardian ad litem (6)
  • Interstate issues (2)
  • Mediation (5)
  • Mental Health (3)
  • Parenting Plans (1)
  • Parenting Time (17)
  • Parenting time expeditor (3)
  • Same Sex Divorce (5)
  • Uncategorized (28)
  • Uncontested Divorce (6)
Copyright © 2023 Williams Divorce & Family Law All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy

The content of this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. To establish an attorney-client relationship with Williams Divorce & Family Law requires a retainer agreement signed by you and attorney Gerald O. Williams. Woodbury/St. Paul, Minnesota, attorney, Gerald O. Williams, represents clients in divorce and family law matters throughout the seven county metro area, including the communities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Cottage Grove, Maplewood, Oakdale, Lake Elmo, and Stillwater. The seven county metro area includes Washington, Ramsey, Hennepin, Dakota, Anoka, Scott, and Carver.

Is court in person? Court Covid Update