How Do we Share Medical Costs for our Kids?

When you’re married, you share costs. It’s what you do. You need food; the money comes from both spouses. Your car breaks down; you both pay for it. Your kid gets sick; you both contribute money to pay for doctors and medicine.

And then you divorce, and everything changes.

Suddenly, no one wants to pay for anything. Child support is like pulling teeth. Alimony, well, no one wants to pay alimony.

But while no one wants to pay, kids still get sick and need medical care. So, how do divorced couples share medical costs for their kids?

Utah Law Regarding Sharing Medical Costs for Children

Let’s see what Utah law has to say. First, the law lays out a few things that have to go in divorce decrees and paternity orders:

The court shall include the following in its order:

(1) a provision assigning responsibility for the payment of reasonable and necessary medical expenses for the dependent children;
(2) a provision requiring the purchase and maintenance of appropriate insurance for the medical expenses of dependent children, if coverage is or becomes available at a reasonable cost; and
(3) provisions for income withholding, in accordance with Title 62A, Chapter 11, Part 4, Income Withholding in IV-D Cases, and Part 5, Income Withholding in Non IV-D Cases.

Utah Code, Section 78B-12-111.

So, you have to assign responsibility to pay for medical expenses, and you must purchase medical insurance for your kids (provided the cost isn’t prohibitively expensive).

Now that we understand what must be included in a divorce decree or paternity order, the law also tells us how medical costs should be shared:

(3) The order shall require each parent to share equally the out-of-pocket costs of the premium actually paid by a parent for the children’s portion of insurance unless the court finds good cause to order otherwise.

. . . .

(6) The order shall, in accordance with Subsection 30-3-5(1)(b), include a cash medical support provision that requires each parent to equally share all reasonable and necessary uninsured and unreimbursed medical and dental expenses incurred for the dependent children, including but not limited to deductibles and copayments unless the court finds good cause to order otherwise.

Utah Code, Section 78B-12-212.

So, the law mandates parents will share equally medical costs for children.

You can always bargain around a 50/50 split, but if you go to trial, you can pretty much count on a judge ordering 50/50.

How Medical Costs Are Split in Real Life Utah Divorce and Child Custody Cases.

We talked about the law, but how does all this work out in most Utah divorce and paternity cases?

You end up sharing equally medical costs for your kids — almost always.

There are some select situations in which one person makes so much more than the other that one person pays 100%. This really only happens in negotiation though; I have never seen a judge order someone to pay 100% of medical costs on a permanent basis.

Protect Your Money And Your Family

We remove fear associated with divorce, protect your money & maximize time with your kids!

We're here to help. Let's determine your best options.

Call Us 24//7 at 801-685-9999 to Speak with a Live Representative

Utah Divorce FAQs
Top 100 Divorce Blog
What Clients Are Saying…
BrownLaw icon
Excellent
Brown Family Law
4.8
Based on 918 reviews
Great support, Russell and Connor were amazing and got my case dismissed in only 2 months. Great communication with weekly calls. Easy to work with and were very conscious on not overspending my budget. Great team.
Response from the owner:Daniel, thank you for the kind words, and happy Russell and Connor did well for you.
Anne Greyson long was great to work with she really listens and fights for her clients thank you so much for all your hard work
Response from the owner:Thank you, Heather. Glad Anne-Greyson helped you so well.
You get what you pay for, and the Brown Family team is worth every penny. We truly appreciated their team-based approach, making sure that every detail of our case was thoughtfully handled. They were incredibly easy to work with, kept us informed throughout the process, and made sure no question ever went unanswered. By far the best family attorneys I’ve worked with, and the only ones I’ll call if I ever need legal help again.
Response from the owner:Chris, thank you. Glad we were able to guide you through your process.
Andrew made the whole process smooth and quick! Kept me updated on any changes, and followed up with me constantly!

Made me feel at ease throughout the whole process and made sure I felt seen/ heard!
Response from the owner:Joselyn, thank you for the kind words.
David Handy is my attorney and he is excellent. He understands my cases and is well informed to defend my needs and the needs of my kids. He is supportive and compassionate. Telling me how things are and what to expect. He does very well with my high conflict cases (protective order and divorce). I highly recommend him and the Brown Family Law firm. Everyone I have talked to is helpful. Especially Conor Schetzel who is currently the paralegal on my cases.
Response from the owner:Suzanne, thank you and glad David has taken care of you.
Nathaniel Garrabrandt and Brown Family Law is where I send people who are seeking Divorce. Highly professional and compassionate. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Jaren, thank you for the referrals.
I cannot say enough good about my experience with Brown Family Law. Ray Hingson and paralegal Carren did an excellent job with my case. I will definitely use this firm again for any legal issues.
Response from the owner:Meghann, so glad Ray and Carren took good care of you.
I have worked with Andrew Christensen many times in a variety of situations. I am very impressed with his friendly demeanor in a difficult situation. I would highly recommend him to you without any reservations.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Monica.
Highly recommend Brown Family Law. Life is hard, divorce is harder, and Andrew Christensen is your guy to help you through to the other side.
Response from the owner:Mike, thank you for the kind words and the referrals.
When you’re going through a tough time and need legal help, this firm isn’t just a one-person operation. It’s a team of attorneys who work together to support you every step of the way. So you’re not just getting a lawyer, you’re getting a legal team behind you.

Navigating the legal system was a steep learning curve for me, and my situation was fairly complex. What stood out about this law firm was the way multiple attorneys collaborated to address my case. It wasn’t just one person working in isolation, but a team supporting each other to find the best path forward. That kind of collective effort is a real strength, especially in hard out complex situations like mine.

There was one issue I felt should have had a different outcome with the court. When I brought it up, the team responded in a very professional and respectful manner, which I truly appreciated. It came to my understanding that the legal system sometimes works in a way that is distant than I thought. This was presented to me in a way that someone outside of the legal system could understand.

In my experience, this firm takes the time to not only assist you, but also help you understand why things are happening. That made a big difference for me, and it’s something that really sets them apart.
Response from the owner:David, thank you for our conversation and taking the time to leave this review.
yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7

Categories

Related Posts