Custodial parents have a great deal of leeway in how they spend the child support funds that they receive. In general, the money must be spent in a way that meets the needs of a child even if it is not spent directly on the child. However, a misuse of funds that leaves a child’s needs unmet could warrant legal action. The noncustodial parent paying the child support may petition a court to request an accounting of child support spending from the custodial parent. Confirmation that a parent is misusing child support exposes that person to prosecution for a first-degree misdemeanor on a first offense.