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Providing a cell phone to fifteen year old
I pay my daughter's mother $430.00 in child support every month and she expects me to pay additional money for a cell phone to keep in contact with our child? Should I pay for my daughter's cell phone or is keeping her in contact with me her mother's job?
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If the cell phone is an extra $20 bucks a month, sure. But if it's one of these fancy ones with all the interent access and text messaging for like $100 a month, I say forget it. However, in general, I say that the child support should go towards the wupport of the child. And I would classify the cell phone as supporting, you know in case of emergency.
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if you pay child support regular good man i'm 18 and in back child support my dad still owes me over 4k but our child support woman wont question the state about it but tell your ex to kiss your ass that the landline works just as good
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Personally, My ex pays child support for our 3 kids and I dont and wouldnt ever make him pay for a cell phone, because I think if your ex wants your child to have one so bad then it should be up to her to get it. And as far as whose job is it for contact? It is both of your jobs to keep in contact with each other.. BUT a cell phone for your daughter should not be the only way you can be in contact with your daughter.
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I know a friend of mine her ex husband pays the child support and phone bill for two children. much younger though. Although i think the 430 should be covered in the phone bill. If you are paying child support she can not stop you from talking to your daughter. I am sorry you have to go through things like this and i hope it gets easier for you good luck.
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Keeping in contact with the child is very much YOUR responsibility as her parent.
However, her mother's job is to not get in the way of that contact and allow you to exercise your rights and be in the child's life in a meaningful way.
So, if you are not able too e-mail your daughter, or call her at home, or visit with her regularly, then yes, paying for her cell phone would make some sense.
If calling your daughter runs up huge charges or long distance fees, then it 'might' be courteous and sensible for you to offer to bear some of that cost, not because you are strictly required too, but out of good-will.
If the mother is standing in the way of you connecting with her in those other ways (forbidding you to use the land line or some such) then no, there is no reason to pay for a second phone. You should be able to contact your daughter on the existing phone. Why is there a problem in contacting your child is those normal ways anyways?
The most important thing however, is that you maintain a healthy relationship with your daughter. If for some reason, the mother is going to hold your feet to the fire and restrict your access unless you shell out for the cellphone, then do so. Do so even if it's shouldn't be 'your responsibility'. Do so because you care for your daughter and want to stay in touch with her. Do so because it's not her fault, and if someone is going to suffer in this situation, better it be you, then her.
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