Dear Quentin, I read one of your recent letters from a public-school teacher whose boyfriend who worked on Wall Street wanted half the cost of a vacation when they broke up.
This brought to mind my ex demanding that I pay half of our daughter’s uncovered medical bill. He was making about three times what I do. I know now that money should be part of a frank and practical discussion in any situation, but I’m wondering what your take is on this.Dear Rebecca, There’s rarely such a thing as “fair” in a breakup, especially when it comes to finances.
Katie Carter, a divorce attorney with the Hofheimer Family Law Firm in Virginia, has opinions on this issue: “In lots of agreements, I find that opposing counsel will try to include that the parties will split the unreimbursed medical expenses 50/50,” she writes. “But that’s not the law. The law says that the parties will split unreimbursed medical expenses pro rata – that is, proportionally, based on their incomes.
You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions at qfottrell@marketwatch.com, and follow Quentin Fottrell on Twitter.
It’s the exact same for each, literally the definition of fair lol
Yes, it’s fair. Get a better job.
You mean, the mother claims her child is not half her responsibility? 🤡sorry.
You mean....the child's father? And you're the mother?
Yes
Sounds like a fair trade-off for all the times you had to pay for his emotional baggage.
Assuming he is already paying child support I’d not think it fair for you to expect him to pay 2/3 on the medical expenses as well. However, only a cad would expect the mother of his child who makes only 1/3 of what he makes to split these medical bills 50-50. Imho
Is your daughter 75% his? Pretty sound logic there
no
Equality now! 🤣🤣
Your
That doesn't seem fair at all. Have you considered speaking to a lawyer to get a more equitable arrangement?
What kind of question is that? One parent may be the richest person. How does it absolve the other parent
Yep, completely fair. She is 50% your daughter after all.. This ofc only hold true if all the expenses are split 50-50. Otherwise, if you are incapable of financially support your daughter you should give up on the custody. It would be unfair to your ex to be treated like an ATM.
It takes 2 to tango
What does his income have to do with her responsibilities?
Yes
No ..
She is your own daughter both of you . What is the fuss about . Just take care of her expenses togeather . Stop fighting who pays what .
She's half your responsibility, right ?
yes