What Child Support Actually Covers (Most Parents Get This Wrong)

Think 50/50 child custody means no one pays child support? Think child support only covers groceries and clothes? Think again.

Attorney Shameka Rhoades of Trustice Law Group is breaking down exactly how child support works in Virginia — and the myths that cost parents money in court. In this segment from ABC News Showcase, Shameka covers:

• How child support is actually calculated (hint: it’s gross income, not net)
• Why 50/50 child custody doesn’t always mean zero child support
• How health insurance premiums and daycare costs factor in
• What child support is actually supposed to cover (sports, hobbies, housing)
• The #1 thing Shameka wishes every parent knew before coming to court

Child support isn’t just about the child’s groceries — it covers housing, utilities, and more. If you’re going into a support case unprepared, you need to watch this first.