On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Support on Monday, August 22, 2016.
While it’s not unusual for Illinois parents to think that their kids are pretty special, there are some children who are particularly gifted. These youngsters usually benefit from specialized educational and extracurricular activities that can nurture their talents.
A child who is a gifted athlete requires special equipment and coaching to reach his or her potential. All of this can be expensive and a significant burden on family finances. The question of paying for the child’s activities can become even more complicated in situations where the parents are divorced.
Child support agreements often allow payments to be used for extracurricular expenses, as well as basic day-to-day needs. However, the needs of a child athlete are often so extraordinary that standard child support amounts may not be sufficient to cover these needs. As a result, the parent with primary physical custody may be placed in a position where he or she is required to pay a significant amount of money out of pocket for these expenses.
In some cases, a child support modification may be an option in situations where the best interest of the child would be served. Ideally, parents will come to an agreement on their own. In others, the parents may need to seek mediation or even go to court to come to a settlement.
Parents of child athletes may benefit from speaking with an experienced family law attorney who can review the situation, including the child’s potential in the sport of his or her choice. When appropriate, the attorney may be able to negotiate changes in the current support agreement so as to be able to provide necessary funds for the child’s athletic career.
