Who Pays for Virtual Summer Camp Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic?

COVID-19 continues to affect our community, and closures of schools and other children’s activities have caused a disruption in the lives of many families. For many children, the start of summer means the beginning of various outdoor activities. Summer camps are a great option for children to be socially and physically active during their summer break. Unfortunately, owing to the current pandemic, many summer camps will not be opening this season to protect the health and safety of their staff and campers. Instead, many camps have decided to host virtual summer camps, which will be held over Zoom video calls and Instagram to keep children active and provide them with the same community that they would have at physical camp.

Although virtual summer camps are a great idea to keep children occupied, for divorced or separated parents, the cost of camp can be challenging. If your child wants to attend a summer camp, the question of who is going to pay is always in the back of a parent’s mind. Under New Jersey’s current child support guidelines, camp is considered a necessity if it takes the place of childcare while parents are at work. Because of this, the cost of camp should be shared by both parents and considered part of child support. For situations in which the parents cannot decide who pays for camp because it is not considered a necessity, the following are tips on how to manage costs.

Negotiate: Many times, camp is not considered a necessity but an activity for which your child is interested. To decide how to pay for your child’s camp costs, take the time to talk about options with your ex-spouse and make sure to discuss these costs at divorce negotiations. All cost decisions should be written down to ensure that both parties pay what they agreed on. Also, your child’s health and safety should be of utmost importance and highly considered when deciding on summer activities.

Compromise: To keep discussions with your ex-spouse civil and productive, be willing to compromise on camps and costs. You may be set on sending your child to a more expensive camp, but if your ex-spouse believes this is not necessary, compromising is your best option. Consider both sides of the discussion and write down the pros and cons of different camps and use this to decide on the best option for your child.

Seek Help: Sometimes parties cannot compromise on a summer camp for their child, especially if one parent does not want to pay. A divorce lawyer can be helpful in these situations to provide legal help and offer advice.

Morristown Divorce Lawyers at Lyons & Associates, P.C. Offer Support for Clients Facing Financial Disagreements

If you and your ex-spouse cannot agree on summer activities for your child, contact the Morristown divorce lawyers at Lyons & Associates, P.C. to help with financial discussions. Our skilled legal team is focused on the best possible outcome in family law cases and we strive for positive experiences with each client. Call us today at 908-575-9777 or contact us online for a free consultation. Located in Somerville and Morristown, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout Somerset, Woodbridge, Parsippany, Rockaway, Short Hills, Chatham, Randolph, Madison, and Morris Plains.