what is child support

Child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other similar relationship. Child support is based on the policy that both parents are obliged to financially support their children, even when the children are not living with both parents. Child support includes the financial support of children and not other forms of support, such as emotional support, intellectual support, physical care, or spiritual support. When a court orders a parent to pay child support, the parent must pay directly to the childs custodian rather than directly to the child. States generally do not impose an obligation to pay support for a child after that child has reached the age of 18. The amount of child support varies between cases, taking into account the unique circumstances of each case, such as the childs age, the health and educational needs of the child, and the standard of living that the child would have enjoyed if the family had continued living together.