Though it may indeed be correct, that money paid outside of support, cash, gifts,etc do not go towards child support. Checks written that are specifically for child support, and cash deposited directly into an account that also are specifically for child support do go towards support, especially when the checks are noted as for that purpose, and there are reciepts for the cash.
Once again you speek in generality without knowledge of the facts. Obviously, if both parties are getting along, and there is no income deduction order at my employer, the only way to pay child support is to make payments directly to her. It was her idea to give me deposit tickets for her account so I did not have to mail the payments to her when I resided in Brevard county.
When you and her broke up,She called me and asked me to help her and accelerate the arearage that I was paying $100.00 a month. I gave her 2 checks, one for $5000.00, the other for $2500.00. Both were marked and accepted as child support, not a gift. What is so nafarious is that she had knowledge that none of those payments are notated at child support enforcement, and also knew that I did not have that knowledge. Fortunately, they will accept cancelled checks and reciepts, and we are going back to court again.
You are also incorrect that the court has sole discretion. The child support enforcement has told my attorney that if she acknowledges those payments in writing, we do not have to go back to court. That also saves her a trip from North Carolina to Ft. Lauderdale.
You also stated incorrectly that the court alone sets the amount of child support each month. Well, in her kitchen at her townehome in Parkland, in November of 2007, We agreed and signed an agreement for the current amount of $1100.00 a month. She then had it recorded with court. No judge or court determined that amount. She again could agree to a new amount. The correct amount based on my current income, and save me substancial legal fees and her a trip to Florida, but she does not, because she knows that it takes time and money(my money) to get back into court, and she is enjoying the windfall as long as she can.
Its very nice that you can afford extra's like bday's lessons, etc. If and when my child supoort is modified to the correct amount, I will have an extra $6240.00 each year. With that, I will be able to do the same.