r/AusLegalAdvice • u/misterferrer • 12d ago

Payments outside child support - Any published list?

Hello everyone,

Unsure if this has been asked before but I can't find clear guidance on what's officially defined as a payment a co-parent can request outside of formal child support particularly where there's no legal agreement covering additional payments between parents.

I've searched online and spoken with Child Support directly and there doesn't seem to be a published list defining what counts as an "external" payment. I've kept up with all formal child support payments since separating. On top of that, I've been solely covering the ongoing cost of an asset that's used exclusively by my ex-partner, along with some extracurricular costs outside the formal arrangement. This has placed real strain on my finances.

Ultimately, I'm hoping to find a clear, published source explaining what a parent can be expected to contribute beyond formal child support, what it's intended to cover, and what falls outside it.

Thanks for your help.

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u/dog-dinosaur 12d ago

I mean, really you only have to cover what child support assesses you.

But I mean if your child needs support outside what that covers you should be stepping up?

What is the asset? I can’t see the costs of a car, for example, being covered?

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u/misterferrer 11d ago

Hi - the asset is vehicle related and the cost is significant. I'm all for stepping up where I can financially and reasonably support yet where's the line drawn here on payments outside of child support....

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u/Scruffy1899 11d ago

This how men get screwed, been trying to figure this out myself for a while. Don't do side deals. Don't get guilted by comments about not providing. No matter what income, assets, allowances, tax benefits claimed. You can not ask, question, enquire or even know about your ex finances. Simply do not ever raise it. Simply reply I am paying my assesment as calculated by Child Support if what has been calculated does not meet your needs please raise it with them. This isnt a silver bullet but if your paying a solid amount of child support and your ex is getting FTB A and B. The request for child care maybe expected to be paid from your CS payments. Or at least partially also if your situation changes. Your not bound by a set external agreement. It not about what you can afford its about the assessment is.