They will re-evaluate everything. They use a formula and there is not much you can do about it. DH did start putting SS in Karate to add to what he was paying for and it did help.

Our CO says that they have to split all medical expenses over $100.00. So when it gets over a 100.00 they just send an email and whoever owes wrote a check to the other.

Now, we have just changed it again and thankfully it is easier. DH pays for SS and BM pays for SD. Although DH does cover her for insurance, he no longer has to communicate with BM about any of it.

There is not much fighting involved here, it is a simple formula that they will follow. Both salaries go in and the expenses that you pay for the kids and the cost of the insurance and it will kick out a number.

I suggest if you are paying for any extras you start documenting it so you can add it to the spreadsheet to help your side.

We use MS Money and document every dime that DH spends on his kids. Thankfully our finances are separate so it makes it easier. But, when BM sued us she did have a right to see our combined tax returns and that still irritates the hell out of me. So now, we file separately this year to prevent it again.

You need to get a clearer CO that spells out what he pays for. But, usually medical is above and beyond the CS. It just needs to be spelled out. Have fun with the mediator...The whole process is awful. But, it did feel good when the mediator told her she owed us $5.00 a month...

Don't know how it is in your state, but in Minnesota child support is actually 3 components. 1st is "basic support" (what people typically think of as child support, goes to food, housing, clothes, etc). 2nd is "medical support" (pays for insurance, medical expenses, etc). 3rd is "childcare support" (pays for daycare expenses if the child needs it). Google "child support" and your state and look for an official state website that will lay out how child support is calculated and what it takes to change it.

It may be that the shild support order needs to be changed to reflect changed circumstances.

It is odd that the CO doesn't mention health insurance or medical costs. I've not seen a situation where that WAS included in the CS amount. As a matter of fact, where I live, it isn't split evenly; it's split according to the percentage that each parent is able to support the child(ren). In other words if my salary is $20,000 and my exh is $100,000, his portion of their support will be much higher than what I am able to support them with. If my portion of their support (determined by incomes, and what the state says should go toward the number of children you have) is 25%, then my responsibility of medical costs is 25%. This is all figured out in the child support worksheet and there isn't much to play with there unless the parent making less wants to work with the other parent and work out a different deal.

After 7 years, laws have probably changed no matter where you live. CS has gone through major changes nationwide and it just depends on your state. Expect him to pay for a portion of medical, at least, and whoever covers them for health insurance, the premiums are usually considered a portion of cs.

It really depends on where you are. DH pays an exorbitant amount in CS. He is also required to carry insurance on SD, then pay 85% of all out of pocket costs. He was ordered to cover 100% of her braces and everything that goes with. And DH has no say in where SD is taken for medical treatment or when - he's just expected to pay the bill. So, yes, it can certainly happen that your DH will get smacked with it, but then again, our CS is apparently handled in the BM-haven where it's simply a matter of "Oh what,s that? You're a BM? Of COURSE 75% of you ex's paycheck should go straight in your pocket. Sit down dear, we're so Sorry that you're so loony-toons that you can't handle Anything, but keep your child and raise her up to be just as useless and psycho as you. What a horrible man you had! Let's see if we can take him for More money."

I'm a little annoyed still, can you tell?

When we did the calculations it was in our favor. BM lost and had to pay all this money to the lawyers and ultimately got no CS. She did get custody of SD, but we had already dropped her off. So she gets nothing. Turns out when SS sued to live with us recently she would have owed us 300 a month. She freaked out and her lawyers had it written up that when SD turned 18 we couldn't ask for CS because then it was $600 a month. DH agreed although the final agreement has not been signed, held up by BM. So the decision is that in 2 years when SD is 18 we are going after her anyway for CS for SS just so we can get back some of the costs of the lawyers she has caused. May cost us thousands to collect the same, but DH doesn't care because it will still cost her more....

Custody agreements aren't really permanent arrangements, but are usually designed for each family's specific situation. I was told outright by the Attorney General's office that I shouldn't expect the custody agreement to be a set thing, and that my child support, etc... would fluctuate based on my income and what visitation was best for my son's well-being.