As of January 1, 2024, the Indiana Child Support Guidelines were revised. One significant change addressed expenses for the birth of a child. While previous versions of the child support guidelines suggested that a father may be ordered to pay a portion of expenses relating to the child’s birth, the guidelines now provide, “Upon the establishment of paternity, the court shall order the father to pay at least fifty percent (50%) of the reasonable expenses of the mother’s pregnancy and childbirth, as part of the court’s decree in child support actions. The costs to be included are pre-natal care, delivery, hospitalization, other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the child’s birth; post-partum expenses; and post-natal care.” Guideline 7. (Emphasis added.)
If you’re pregnant and not married to the child’s father, what documentation should you keep to make this calculation easier? This starts with the very first visit to your doctor. Did you have a co-pay for your doctor visits? A deductible for your ultrasounds? These are common expenses which would likely be divisible.
Of course, the actual birth of the child and charges for time spent in the hospital are part of these expenses but remember that you may be billed by the hospital for your stay, the anesthesiologist for the epidural, the doctor for his/her time, and possibly other groups such as radiology or the NICU if there are other issues. While it’s tempting to try to divide payment of these expenses immediately after the birth of the child, you may continue to get bills for the time at the hospital for weeks if not months. Be careful to not consider this issue “closed” until you’re absolutely sure.
And what happens if the mother has post-partum expenses? There may be expenses for physical therapy due to a difficult birth, counseling, and doctor visits to address post-partum depression, or consultations with a lactation consultant to assist with breastfeeding. These all could be considered necessary and reasonable expenses too.
The decision to have a child is not to be taken lightly, and can come with significant expense, which starts even before the child is born. Remember to keep careful records of all expenses incurred for you and the child from the moment the pregnancy begins. It will make getting reimbursement for these pregnancy, birth, and post-partum expenses much less of a headache if you remain organized. Consider contacting Wanzer Edwards before your bundle of joy comes into the world to make sure you’re on the right track.
