Child Support - How Does It Work?

Child support is the legal obligation of a parent to financially support his or her child after the child has reached 18 years of age. Child support may be awarded in a divorce proceeding, paternity suit, or custody dispute. The court can order either or both parents to pay money for the child's support. The amount of support can vary depending on the circumstances of the case and the needs of the child.

A child support order is typically ordered by the court after a judge hears evidence about the financial situation of the parents. If the court decides that it is in the best interests of the child to award support, the court will set a specific amount of money that each parent will have to pay. The court can order one or both parents to pay money. The court can order the noncustodial parent to make payments directly to the custodial parent. The court can also order the non custodial to make payments directly to the child. The court can order that a third party pay the money. This can include the state if there is no custodial parent.

If the noncustodial parents cannot afford to pay child support, they can ask the court to reduce the amount of money that they must pay. They can also ask the court to waive the payment entirely. If the custodial parent cannot afford to pay child support but has a job, the court may not require the custodial parent to pay child support. The court can order the custodial parent to use the money that she receives from the noncustodial partner to pay child support.

If the court awards child support, it must follow certain rules. The child support payments must be made within the state where the court is located. If the parent lives in another state, he or she must pay the other parent for the child's support. A parent who does not live in the state where the court is located can still be required to pay child support if the other parent lives in the state. The court can order the parent who does not live in that state to pay child support to the other parent. The court can order the other parent to pay child support to the parent who does not live there.

The court can also order the non-custodial parent to pay for any special needs of the child. These can include health care, educational expenses, and even transportation costs.

The court may order the parent who is paying child support to provide more than just money. The court can order this parent to provide medical insurance for the child. The court can also order this parent to pay for the child's food, clothing, and shelter.