About In-kind Agreements

In some states, there are other ways to give child support besides direct monetary payment, though in most cases that is what the courts will decide is best. But for poor parents this may be too difficult a burden to pay. Also, there is no way to know for sure if child support payments are really going toward the children or not.

What some parents have decided to do instead is formulate an in-kind agreement. This lets one or both parents equate some sort of service to the children as a form of child support. For instance, one parent may agree to supply all of the school clothing, while the other supports activity fees. For parents that want to make the co-parenting relationship work, this can be an excellent way to find a sense of fairness.

However, it can also backfire badly especially if there are court-ordered child support payments already in effect. The parents will have to approach the court and renegotiate the legal agreement, and this can be tricky. Courts prefer to work with monetary rewards because they are quantifiable. Having a family lawyer work with both parties and present the case for accepting an in-kind arrangement may help smooth the way.

Do you feel that an in-kind arrangement may work better for you than financial payments? Discuss your ideas and the state of Washington law with an experienced Washington family law attorney. Elise Buie Family Law Group, PLLC is ready to help. Call our office today.