Rhode Island Child Support Law FAQS - Daycare, Overtime, Modification, College, Termination

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

1) What if my child's parent works overtime? Will overtime be included in child support?

There is no standard law or rule in Rhode Island regarding whether or not the non-possessory parent's overtime will be used to calculate child support. One Judge in Rhode Island consistently rules that overtime compensation cannot be used to calculate child support.

Other Judges in Rhode Island have different opinions regarding overtime. The Family Court is a court of equity and fairness. Judges in Rhode Island will typically look at whether or not a person consistently works overtime over a substantial period of time. Judges may also look at whether or not overtime is consistently offered to a spouse. If overtime is infrequent or not typically offered Judges may be hesitant to calculate overtime as a factor of child support. In that case, many attorneys argue that a person's income should be calculated using their W2 or gross income for the entire calendar year. By calculating gross income over an entire calendar year even infrequent overtime becomes an element of child support.

Judges may also look at other factors such as the needs and expenses of both parties and any extraordinary expenses for the child. At least one Judge has suggested that the possessory parent get a percentage of the overtime that is worked by the non-possessory parent. Other Judges in Rhode Island believe that overtime should always be a factor in child support. Often the issue of overtime is negotiated by the lawyers prior to any formal ruling by the Judge.

2) My child is about to turn 18 but is still in high school and living at home, can I still get child support?

Under Rhode Island Law, child support should end when a child turns 18 and graduates high school. If the child is still in high school, then child support will continue until the child turns 19.

Child support in Rhode Island automatically continues even after the child turns 18 unless a Motion to terminate child support is filed. If you are a non-possessory parent, your best option is to contact a lawyer to file a Motion to Terminate Child Support approximately 40 days prior to your child turning 18 and graduating high school. This will mean that the motion will be heard on a court date soon after the child turns 18. Please note that the non-possessory parent can still be found in contempt for failure to pay child support even after the child turns 18 if there is no motion granted to terminate the child support. If a child is seriously disabled, child support shall continue until the child turns 21 years old.

3) Can I get my child's father to be ordered to pay for my child's college education?

In Rhode Island the Court has no jurisdiction to order a parent to pay for the college education of his/her child. However, if pursuant to a Property Settlement Agreement or other contract, one party agrees to pay for a child's education, then that agreement may be enforced by a court of law. Therefore, if you seek to have your child's parent pay for your child's college education, then you must negotiate payment of college expenses as part of a global settlement of the divorce or custody agreement or other similar agreement.

4) Who is going to pay for my child's daycare?

The Rhode Island minimum child support guidelines take into account both the importance and expense of daycare. The child support guidelines and worksheet are used to determine the proper amount of child support to be paid by the non-possessory parent. The bottom line is that a party will be ordered to pay approximately the same percentage of the daycare that the party makes in relation to that party's percentage of the combined gross income of both parties.

For example: If the husband makes $100,000.00 and the wife makes $50,000.00 the combined gross income for the parties is $150,000.00. Therefore, the husband makes 66 percent of the income and will be ordered to pay 66 percent of the daycare in addition to child support. (There may be an adjustment to take into account the federal tax credit.) This amount is added onto the minimum Child Support Guidelines amount.

5) How do I modify, increase or terminate child support in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island child support can only be modified if there is a substantial change of circumstances. In order to get a substantial change of circumstances, the child support amount must be 10 percent more or less than the old child support order. The change in circumstances could result from loss of a job, increase of income of either party, new dependents, loss of overtime, unemployment, a disability, etc.

David Slepkow is a Rhode Island lawyer concentrating in divorce, family law, child support, alimony custody and visitation. David has been practicing for over 9 years and is licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Federal Court. Please goto http://www.slepkowlaw.com to contact David Slepkow or to obtain more information. You can also call David Slepkow. 401-437-1100

Related Articles:-

Own Day Care

Why Starting A Daycare Is The Best Thing Since Sli...

Top Seven Things To Consider When Buying a Start a...

Marketing Plan For Day Care

Starting A Day Care - Where To Advertise Your New ...

Finding the Right Daycare Center for Your Child

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

If you are sending your child to daycare, you need to make sure that the facility meets your standards. Although each centre offers the parent an allocated set of visiting days, we'd suggest the old tried and tested technique of the surprise visit. This enables us to gauge the standards of such a facility on a regular day, when the staff is not pre-prepared or on extra special behavior. Although, we can expect to run into more than a few restricted zones on such an unannounced visit, we will have a unique insight into your child's daycare environment.

One of the first things you could evaluate is whether the centre has been adequately child proofed. Be on the look out for small details like unattended sharp objects (like scissors) or even unpadded corners, exposed wiring, open plug points and the general standard of cleanliness. Children are bound to litter the floors with their toys and dolls, however, there shouldn't be any stains, dirt or grime either on their playthings or on the floor. Spills are a commonplace incident in a daycare centre, nevertheless, the staff mustn't treat such a mess with a lackadaisical attitude or it can inadvertently lead to a hygiene hazard.

Potty training is usually provided at such a daycare centre and the staff is expected to maintain a schedule for each child. On your visit, you could check whether the staff is attentive to your child needs. At any given point of time there should be access to a bathrooms to avoid an embarrassing playtime incident. You might want to do a check on the facility's changing policies in the event of an accident.

Always have a heart to heart chat with the teachers to figure out whether you can trust them with your child. On the other hand, technology can reassure those flailing nerves and that building sense of insecurity. Several daycare facilities now present parents with Internet-based video monitoring systems that can be accessed from any online computer. As a result, peace of mind is only a few clicks away, as we can view the classroom at any point of time while managing our work.

A daycare centre also prepares your child for the upcoming school years. A good centre balances playtime, social interaction and a well-structure educational program into the daily routine. The staff should provide you with the sample papers or worksheets solved by the children. In this way we can determine the center's adopted approach towards structuring the child's mind through its curriculum.

At dispersal time, we should make sure that the attendants are quick to ask for some sort of photo identification. Then again, in a smaller facility the photo ID card is not required as the teacher will be familiar with each child's parent. This verification system must hold true, nonetheless, for anyone other than the child's mother or father wanting to pick up the child. Once you have performed all these impromptu checks you can bask in an unadulterated sense of security and peace of mind. Your child will blossom in a happy, playful and most importantly a safe environment under the attentive and caring eye of his daycare teacher.

The "Daycare Diva", Christine G. Groth, is the creator of "The Guide to Instant Daycare Profits". To learn more about this step-by-step program and to sign-up for her FREE "How to Start a Daycare" tips and articles, visit http://www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

Related Articles:-

Own Day Care

Why Starting A Daycare Is The Best Thing Since Sli...

Top Seven Things To Consider When Buying a Start a...

Marketing Plan For Day Care

Starting A Day Care - Where To Advertise Your New ...

Why Are Your Children Getting Sick In Daycare

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

You may be thinking that your child is getting more cold’s lately, or maybe it’s a tad bit worse. You’ve just come home from the doctor and your baby is diagnosed with the RSV Virus. Anyway you look at it your pediatrician will elude to the fact that you probably picked up these viruses at “daycare”

Anytime children hang around with other children there is an increased chance of picking up viruses. It’s pretty simple and this law applies to everyone. You live in a glass bubble you won’t get sick, you go out and you take the chance of getting ill.

But, there are some occurrences in child care centers that really do increase the chances for illness. So it’s my duty to tell you why you may see your child getting sick and what you can do about it.

As a parent you have either decided to have your child attend a family center or a group center. Family centers are licensed for up to eight children and group centers are licensed for many more children. One simple fact is that the more children that are present the more chances you take for introducing illness. Very simple, but something you should think about. Group centers are known to be germ factories simply because of the numbers of children that are present.

Another item to keep in mind, it that parents do sometimes send their children sick to daycare. Parents will give their child Tylenol in the morning to “mask” the fever that the child has. By afternoon the Tylenol has worn off and the caregiver has figured out what the parent has done. The caregiver then calls for the sick child to be picked-up. Daycares do remind parents that sick children should not be brought into daycare, but many times parents have no alternatives and feel that they must go to work.

Daycare’s must clean and sanitize toys and equipment daily. This definitely cut’s down on germs and viruses spreading. Also, children’s hands must be washed before and after eating and after bathroom breaks. Hand washing is the #1 way children and daycare facilities can cut down on illness.

Some children for whatever reason seem to get more viruses and illness than others. There just is no explainable reason, but some children I’ve had in daycare are always ill and others never seem to get ill.

All in all, most childcare centers are healthy places with few occurrences of major illness. Congratulate all the caregivers who do their job in keeping things clean for your children.

Christine Groth, author and mentor of Instant Daycare Profits Home Study Course. Instead of sending her twins to daycare she decided to open a daycare her home and now makes more money than most professionals. To receive her free newsletter Go to www.instantdaycareprofits.com

Related Articles:-

Doggy Day Care

Developing An Effective Website For Daycare Center...

Developing A Brochure For Your Daycare Centre

Great Home Based Business: Start a Daycare

Starting a Daycare Business - Inside Secrets to Su...

Fundraising For Your Preschool Or Daycare Center

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within a tight budget that covers the costs of facilities, staff and all of the equipment and materials for operating a quality and stimulating environment for children. It’s a balancing act with little room for extras for the center or it’s staff.

One way to offset the cost of extra curriculum, supplies or staff bonus programs is through fundraising. Our moms have successfully raised funds for our daycare centers, enabling them bring in additional music, art and science events, animal encounters, host special celebration days - like Hawaiian Luaus, purchase sun shades for the playground and fund the staff bonus pool.

Listed below are fundraising programs that have been successfully implemented that you can take, adapt and use at your center:

Garage Sales. Gather your family’s extras and have a group garage sale to benefit your daycare center. Post signs at school to have other families bring their donations in a few weeks before the sale so you can have time to price and organize the items.

Auction. Have an informal auction of donated goods and services in your daycare’s lobby with write-in bids. You can also help organize an auction event, complete with tickets that must be purchased to attend. The event usually has catering, a bar, entertainment and live auction and those costs must be factored into the budget.

Donations. Ask the merchants your frequent regularly if they have goods or services they can donate to the center. Describe the center, what you are raising funds for and explain the donation is tax deductible. Many requests will be positively received. We have found that we’ve received the best response when collecting donations in the spring, summer and early fall so we’re not competing with other donation requests around the holidays. These donations are then incorporated into the school auctions.

Open Ebay Store. Large scale auction events are really only practical one or two times a year for daycare centers because of the costs involved. Consider having a committee that solicits donations year long and sells them in an open market, such as Ebay. It expands your fundraising circle from the immediate circle to a global reach.

Matching Gifts. Remind parents that many corporations have matching gifts programs for donations to non-profit organizations and daycare centers usually qualify. Under this benefit, the corporation may match your cash donation by 50 to 100%.

Artwork By Children. Work with the classroom teachers to create artwork that can be displayed a gallery and sold to parents. Creative projects made by the children or that feature a child’s picture make wonderful gifts for family and friends and sell well when priced appropriately.

Recognition. Parents can memorize their children by purchasing an engraved plaque for a wall, a stamped brick for a walkway or a large piece of equipment for the playground. Think about how large non-profit organizations recognize their large donors and adapt it to your environment. Have an area in your newsletter that regularly recognizes contributions from the parents of the center, whether they be monetary, time or goods and services.

For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit MomRecommended.com, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit http://www.momrecommended.com.

Related Articles:-

Copywriting Tips for Daycare Business Owners

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Leaving Your Child In ...

Fundraising For Your Preschool Or Daycare Center

How to Effectively Sell Your Daycare Centre?

Pet Sitting Day Care

Partnering With Your Daycare or Preschool

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

For the most positive daycare experience for your child, partner with your childcare center and make a personal investment beyond the monthly tuition. You can build your partnership with your daycare by volunteering your time, contributing goods or services, or donating money.

If your child is in daycare full-time, he is spending 40 – 60 hours at your daycare facility with his childcare providers. You owe it to your child to help make the center the best it can be for him.

Beautification Day. Schedule a few hours on a Saturday morning for a group of parents to come into the center and give it a really thorough spring cleaning where you tackle involved chores like painting walls, repairing bookcases, decorating classrooms, scrubbing cubbies.

Fundraising. You can support your center’s fundraising efforts by asking for goods, services or monetary donations. Ask friends and family to partake in fundraising auction events with you – spirited bidding in a live auction is a lively way to spend a Saturday evening with friends while benefiting a good cause.

Participation. Spending an hour or two in the classroom a week reading stories, engaging in dramatic play or just lending a helping hand are all time well spent and greatly appreciated by the daycare center.

If your schedule is too tight to accommodate volunteering at school, think creatively about other ways you can contribute – do you have a skill, talent or connection that can potential benefit the school in some way. It may be an activity that seems inconsequential in your normal course of business but would be invaluable to your daycare center.

Here are some examples to get you started:

Investment Banking. Most centers have an emergency fund they must keep for unexpected facility maintenance or other unplanned expenses. Suggest the best short term investment vehicles for them.

Tax Accountant. Offer to review their current tax preparation forms or evaluate their tax planning process.

Medical Expertise. Conduct a 30 minute seminar or write a column in the newsletter about common childhood ailments, healthy eating or sleeping practices.

Educational Background. Suggest weekend learning activities or offer to conduct a 30 minute special event for one of the older classrooms.

Music. Entertain the kids with an impromptu concert or offer to entertain at the center’s annual fundraising event.

Legal. Offer to review contracts or agreements the school is considering. Offer to review the current application portfolio and identify policies or additional waivers or agreements that should be included.

Sales. Create a bonus plan for the teaching staff that takes into account length of employment and special recognitions.

Marketing. Review the centers brochures, ads and marketing plans. Make recommendations for how to best sell the centers services, help develop creative materials and negotiate print rates with vendors.

Facilities. Offer to inspect the daycare facilities and make maintenance repairs or negotiate with preferred vendors for discounted rates.

About the Author

For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit MomRecommended.com, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit http://www.momrecommended.com.

Related Articles:-

Top 10 Safety Tips When Choosing a Daycare or Pre-...

Five Reasons You Should Fire Your Daycare Center

Attracting the Right Candidate for Your Daycare Po...

Marketing 101 - Effective Ways To Market Your Dayc...

Finding the Right Daycare Center for Your Child

Is Your Child Too Sick to Go To Daycare?

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

On February 8th, 2007 the Wall Street Journal published an article on “sick days-when to keep your child home from daycare”. To summarize the article it basically discussed the fact that many parent’s have problems when children become ill and they still have to go to work.

This is very true, many parent’s do have problems when finding back-up childcare mainly because we are a busy society and just about everyone has something planned today, tomorrow and next week. So when a child does all of the sudden become ill it’s a huge issue.

Part of the problem also lies in the child care facility and their clear explanation of what their policies are. The article in the Wall Street Journal stated that many parents were not sure as to what the sick policy was of their childcare center. So, at 2A.M. does the parent have a clear understanding of whether that child should stay home? Maybe, maybe not.

Everyone realizes that the best place for a sick child is at home- it's in the best interest of the child to advocate this in our daycare centers and to our parents.

As a reminder, when new parent enrolls in your childcare be sure to discuss with them your policies. What are the specific restrictions you have when a child is ill? And be exact, what is the exact temperature that a child should be not allowed into childcare. Make sure that you take a special time to discuss your policies on illness and what illnesses are not allowed in daycare.

Policies are so very important you definitely want to keep your daycare smooth and running.

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva

The “Daycare Diva”, Christine G. Groth, is the creator of “The Guide to Instant Daycare Profits”. To learn more about this step-by-step program and to sign-up for her FREE “How to Start a Daycare” tips and articles, visit http://www.startingadaycaretips.com/

Related Articles:-

Budgetting Tips For New Daycare Businesses

Is A Home Daycare The Answer For You?

Starting Your Own Home Daycare Business

Making Choices In Selecting Or Starting A Daycare ...

So You Want to Start a Home Daycare

Kids and Daycare

>>  Click Here To Download Your Copy INSTANTLY <<

 

Now a days the only way for some families to make it, is for both the mother and father work and the children go to daycare. The daycares are not only expensive but you don't really know what goes on while your children are there.

My daughter and son-in-law were in the group of working parents. My grandson was put in a childcare while they worked. My grandson wasn't the type to cry and act up when he was dropped off. Then he changed. We all thought it was because he was spoiled and didn't want to leave mommy and daddy. It got to the point that my daughter had to get him interested in a toy and sneak out of the place. This went on for months. Then Grandma showed up and was blessed with babysitting for the day. Let me tell you, what a day. From the time my daughter and son-in-law left for work, and until they came home my grandson did nothing but cry. And I mean really cry. How heartbreaking. He kept saying, I want my mommy, I want my daddy, I really love my mommy, I really love my daddy. It made me cry. This went on for 6 hours steady. He would sit there and play but still cry and repeat I really love my mommy, I really love my daddy, I want my mommy, I want my daddy. Finally I got him down for a nap. He wore himself out from all the crying. My daughter had finally arrived home from work. She couldn't believe him acting like that. Tristan never had a problem staying with me. We couldn't figure out why all of a sudden there was a big change in him.

She had called the daycare to see if there was something going on there. She had explained his actions for the day. The lady she had talked to had said that it was probably because he wasn't use to being around Grandma cause she lives in Georgia and doesn't come often. Wrong. Grandma was there every other week. After she went round for round with the lady, she ended up taking my grandson out of the daycare and put him in another one. My grandson was back to his old self. Laughing and playing, having a good time. Even found himself a girlfriend.

A few weeks later, my daughter was talking to a friend who works in the building next to the daycare. Well, she started talking about my grandson and how he was acting, and that she had to put him in another daycare. It turns out that the friend witnessed one of the workers at the daycare outside on the side of the building sitting in a chair with my grandson sitting on her lap with her arms around his chest and her legs wrapped around his legs and him crying his little heart out. This act of discipline nearly ruined my grandson. If they did that to my grandson, what else were they doing there?

My grandson is no longer in daycare, he is in second grade and his mom is a stay at home mom. He is doing great and a happy little fellow.

So if you need to put your child in a daycare, be sure to check it out before you leave your child. And if you see a difference in your child's attitude or behavior, check it out. There is a reason why.

Continue

Related Articles:-

Dog Day Care

5 Things You Need To Start A Daycare

Opening a Daycare Center - Do Your Homework!

Developing An Effective Daycare Business Plan

Partnering With Your Daycare or Preschool