How Is Child Support Ordered And What Exactly Is It?

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How Is Child Support Ordered And What Exactly Is It?

Child support is a court ordered monthly payment by one parent (often the non-custodial parent) to the other parent for the support of their common child. Federal law now requires that the amount of a child support payment be set in accordance with a guideline. Having a guideline is believed to prevent widely different amounts of child support being ordered from courtroom to courtroom. Guidelines provide an objective basis for the determination of the amount of support to be paid. As a result, most states have established formulas that are used to determine the amount of the payment from one parent to the other. In general child support payments are typically determined according to a state adopted mathematical formula that takes each parent’s income, earning capacity, health and time spent with the child, into consideration.

Other Custody and Child Support FAQs

Q: How Does The Court Decide Who Gets The Children?
A: At the outset, it is important to understand that “custody” is usually divided into two separate categories – legal custody and physical … More
Q: My Spouse Is Not Making Payments – What Can I Do?
A: You can take your spouse back to court. Once there, the judge has many tools available for your use. For example, you could have the judge issue a wage … More
Q: Can A Child Support Order Be Changed Or Modified?
A: Yes. An order for child support can be changed or modified any time there is a material change in circumstances from the time that the initial child support was … More
Q: What Happens If I Need To Relocate?
A: Should a parent need to relocate, the court will continue to use the “best interests” standard in determining where the child will go. There are … More