How to organize parenting and child support

One thing I’ve learned from running a business is that using spreadsheets to track money is a bad idea. That holds true for tracking child support payments too. Excel spreadsheets are great for many things, but keeping tabs on all things child support related is just too complicated. Organizing and keeping track of child support payments is extremely important for a number of reasons… first and foremost, when you keep good track of expenses and payments received, you minimize the opportunity for disagreements between you and your ex. You also make tax time easier and less stressful by organizing everything throughout the year. And of course, when disagreements arise, you can save time and money when you need to get a lawyer involved because you’ll have all the information at hand.

One thing I did to help keep my expenses organized was setting up a system in my home for keeping track of receipts. I picked up a little plastic desk organizer, like this organizer from The Container Store, with a few drawers and set it in a handy place in the kitchen. Every few days I take all the receipts from my wallet and stick them in one of the drawers, so they are all in one place. I still like this system but it didn’t eliminate the constantly fighting talking with my Ex about money in from of our daughter.

“You find yourself becoming not only the Mom or the Dad but also the Bill collector and having to remember because no one sends you a bill for child support”

But all this was Before Support Pay was born!

SupportPay makes organizing child support payments and expenses a breeze. Simply scan and upload your receipts to the website, and you can organize all your expenses in one place, whether they are recurring or one-time expenses, paid online or in a store. You can then track payments you’ve received and even attach them to the corresponding expenses. You have access to all of these features with the free account! You can sign up for the free account here. The best part is that you may never have to talk to your Ex about money again, letting you focus on what matters—your kids. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a dispute needs to be resolved, you can always upgrade your account to take advantage of additional benefits. This way, any person involved in the process can ensure that everything aligns with law and is handled professionally.

When you (myself included) are in front of your kids together lets all get back to talking about what matters. How the kids are doing, and what is going on in the kids lives, not who owes who what.

Are there ways Support Pay can help you manage your child support? We are working hard adding new features so let us know below if there is something you would like to see.

Sole Custody

Sole custody refers to a situation where one parent holds complete legal and physical responsibility for the child. In this setup, the non-custodial parent generally has limited authority in decision-making and may have restricted time with the child, although they still retain visitation rights, which could include extended weekends. Additionally, the non-custodial parent may be required to pay child support and can request modifications to the custody agreement if circumstances change.

A significant aspect of sole custody often involves decisions about the child’s religious upbringing, which is typically determined by the custodial parent. It’s essential for both parents to understand the elements of sole custody, including how visitation schedules, such as extended weekends, can be arranged and how decisions about religious upbringing are made, to effectively manage their rights and responsibilities.

Basic Parenting Plan

A basic parenting plan is an important document that helps guarantee both parents have clear and fair visitation rights with their child. It specifies how parenting time will be allocated, allowing both the father and mother to enjoy meaningful moments with their child. This plan can be created collaboratively by the parents or established through court intervention if they are unable to agree. The primary focus is on the child’s best interests, aiming to create a balanced and consistent arrangement for both parents, ensuring that each parent has their appropriate time with the child.

A basic parenting plan is an essential document that helps ensure both parents, including the other parent, have clear and equitable visitation rights with their child. It details how parenting time will be shared, allowing both the father and mother to enjoy quality moments with their child. This plan can be created collaboratively by the parents or established through court intervention if they cannot come to an agreement. The primary aim is to focus on the child’s best interests and create a balanced and consistent arrangement for both parents, ensuring that the other parent has their rightful time with the child.

Parenting Plan Examples

1. Parenting Plan: A parenting plan details the roles and responsibilities of each parent in raising their child following a separation or divorce.
2. Basic Parenting Plan: An essential parenting plan covers important aspects such as custody arrangements, who makes decisions, and how any disagreements will be settled.
3. Parenting Time Schedule: The parenting time schedule outlines how time is divided between both parents, detailing arrangements for weekdays, weekends, holidays, and special occasions.
4. Where Parents Live: The plan outlines the locations of each parent’s residence, as this can affect the parenting time and the logistics of caring for the child, including their proximity to schools and activities.