I am the custodial parent to my 5 year old daughter. She will be starting kindergarten in September '10 and I am starting to wonder if her father is required to offset the educational expenses that are incurred (Registration fees, school fees, transportation to/from school, etc). It is his wish to send her to private school. But on my income and his measly child support, it will be barely enough and that's only if she doesn't have any extracurricular activities. Can I/Should I petition to modify our child support agreement? And how do I word it. Lastly, can anyone recommend an attorney in the Glenview/Chicago (Lakeview) areas?
Tell your ex that if he wants to send her to a private school then he needs to pay for it. If he doesn't want to pay, then send her to the public school. If at all possible, I would avoid lawers. They can get very expensive. See if a moderator can handle this type of thing.
Absolutely you should petition to have the support arrangement adjusted!! If he wants to send her to private school, then in my experience, YES, it is very likely that he would have to pay for it, unless there is some specific reason that the public school is not suitable for your child.If he is concerned about how you are wasting his money or something like that, then it can be set up so that he pays the school fees directly, I believe.
My attorney is Nanette McCarthy at Griffin, McCarthy and Rice. Their offices are downtown and Nanette will listen to you and really helped me work out a thorny issue with my ex last year when my mother and I wanted to take my 10 year old son to visit relatives in the UK. Their website is: http://www.gmrfamilylaw.com/
Give Nanette a call and don't let your ex make demands that he wants you to take care of, but is unwilling to support himself! good luck!
I personally don't have an experience - but a reference for you. If you are looking for an attorney to just modify the child support agreement, you might be able to work that out through mediation without going through an attorney, which can save you a lot of money doing that. I know an older gentleman who can help you out and his name is Gary Spahn. ###-###-#### and ____@____.com is his contact. He'll be a good contact for you.
I was in this situation with my oldest daughter, and I petitioned the court yearly to raise child support. In my divorce papers, I did have it put in that he would cover half of my dauthers educational expenses & also whichever parent had the better health insurance, they would cover my daughter & pay half of any health/dental expenses not covered by insurance. My daughter is now 24, I got divorced from her dad when she was 2. My advice to you is you have alot of years ahead of you & alot of school expenses. I would find a great divorce attorney & go from there. I can't suggest one in the area you asked for, but my attorney was in Aurora, and his name was David Ward. Good luck to you, and always be your daughter's advocate & she will always have what she needs. :)
