Navigating Co-Parenting Challenges
Sarah and David had been married for over a decade and shared three children: Theresa, Kate, and Jamie. When they separated a year ago, they arranged a cooperative co-parenting schedule, ensuring the children spent quality time with both parents. Sarah took on the primary caregiver role, balancing her job with the demands of raising three young kids. Meanwhile, David, who is now expecting a child with his new partner, has been providing child support according to the amount calculated by Services Australia.
As Theresa, Kate, and Jamie prepare to start private school, Sarah finds the existing child support insufficient to cover their educational and other needs. She’s concerned that David’s financial contributions may decrease once his new baby arrives, potentially leaving her with an increased financial burden. To address this, Sarah consults a family lawyer to explore options for securing a more stable and fair child support arrangement.
Reaching a Peaceful Resolution
Through her lawyer, Sarah learns about the binding child support agreement option. Unlike the standard assessment, this agreement allows parents to create a tailored support arrangement that can include additional expenses like private school fees, health insurance, and extracurricular activities. This customized approach could ensure that her children’s financial needs are consistently met, even as David’s obligations grow.
With their lawyers, Sarah and David negotiate a binding child support agreement. Understanding the importance of stability in his children’s lives, David agrees to increase his financial contribution to cover additional expenses. With this agreement, Sarah feels reassured that her children’s educational and financial needs will be met, allowing her to focus on raising them with peace of mind.