Surprisingly, parents in Tennessee rarely talk to their kids about child support during or after divorce. It can be a difficult subject to broach in some cases. Often, parents simply do not think about starting such a conversation. Because child support has a direct affect on children of divorce, they deserve to know more about the process. They may also benefit from knowing why support is necessary.
Beyond the child’s right to know about child support, there are other reasons to consider bringing up the subject. For example, children who lack knowledge about divorce issues often formulate conclusions of their own.
A child that is not aware of his or her noncustodial parent’s financial contributions may assume that the custodial parent pays for everything they need. This belief may have a negative effect on the child’s relationship with the other parent.
In the simplest terms possible, children with an awareness of each parent’s contributions, financial and otherwise, will likely feel more secure and loved. It may also help children understand that even though they spend less time with one of their parents, both parents work hard to ensure their well-being.
If you do decide to talk about child support with your kids, it is wise for you and your co-parent to plan your approach together. Keep it as simple as possible to avoid overwhelming your kids. In the end, the details are less important than the concept of child support as a tool both parents rely on to care for their children.
A family law attorney can offer you resources to help with sensitive divorce issues like child support. Building a partnership with a lawyer early on will also benefit your family if hardships involving child support or custody arise that require a court’s attention.
Source: DivorceHelper.net, “How to Talk to Your Kids about Child Support,” accessed March 30, 2018
