Child Support


Definition of Child Support

Child support refers to the court-mandated periodic payments made by a parent for the financial benefit of their child or children after a divorce. The payments can be made by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent or, in the event of joint custody, a high-income custodial parent to the other custodial parent, depending upon the jurisdiction and the order of the court.



Child Support Explained

In the event of a divorce, it is the duty and responsibility of both parents to provide emotional and financial support to their child(ren). In most cases, the parent paying child support is the non-custodial parent. The payments are made to the custodial parent, guardian, caregiver, or the state. In most jurisdictions, child support is calculated on the basis of a parent's income. It usually covers the basic expenses of a child. Some jurisdictions also mandate other add-ons such as health insurance or expenses for a child to attend private school to child support. An important aspect of child support is that the parent receiving child support doesn't need to report or provide accounts for how the money is spent.