Legal Question in Family Law in Rhode Island

I was wondering if I could get some professional answers about child support. What should it really go to? My mom apparently says that it goes towards "the roof over your head, food, clothes, electricity, cable and Internet". But, I'm almost never home and eat with my boyfriend and his dad, so shouldn't I be able to get a small portion of the money to pay for my own food? Plus, I'm almost never home, so I don't use much electricity. I only get bought about 100 worth of clothes once or twice a year. Even if I didn't live in the house, the mortgage would still be the same, it was my mom's choice to get a large house with a large mortgage, not mine or my dad's. Same with the Internet and phone. The only things that I can really consider are the basic cable and cell phone, which with everything together costs much less than what she's getting. I just think that it would be more fair if a portion of child supper could be put aside. Maybe for college, or to take a deduction off of the things my dad owes my mom for involving me, like medical costs, or for his portion that he has to pay for my car (which I had no choice in picking). I'd like to think that the extra is being set aside for my college, but with my mom recently building a $500,000+ house, getting a $30,000 four seasons room, and a $16,000 lawn, I kind of doubt it. I wish there was some legal way that for my last year old child support that I could take out a portion each month to put in a savings account for my car and my college. Maybe it's just a dream, but I'm so sick and tired of my mom lecturing me about how I don't understand child support, but I can do simple math and can only tolerate money that seems to disappear and lies for so long. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.


Asked on 8/22/10, 9:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Pearsall Law Office of Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire

You seem to go all over the place with your question and the facts. It would help if I make sure I understand the facts and your question. Please read over my summary and then let me know if I misunderstood. It will help me to give you the proper answer.

Are these the facts and your question?

1) You are placed with your mother, and

2) That you can live in a $500,000+ house, and

3) That it has a $30,000 four seasons room, and

4) That it has a $16,000 lawn, and

5) That you may have access to a computer with internet access, and

6) That you have television, telephone, heat, and electricity, and

7) That you have medical coverage, clothes, and a car, and

8) That you have a bedroom with furnishings to sleep in, and

9) That you are 17 years old, and,

10) That you didn't get to participate in choosing these things personally, and

11) That you don't use these things much at all, and

12) You want to know a legal way you can receive part of the child support your father pays your mother to pay for a portion of these things because you don't really get all the benefit of what you father pays?

Did I understand your question?

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Answered on 8/28/10, 5:29 am


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