Are You Getting The Correct Child Support Payments?

Child support is an going obligation for a payment made directly or indirectly by a non-custodial parent for the care and support of a child/children of a relationship or marriage that has broken down.

Child support is a mandatory payment in any divorce that involves minor children and just like child custody, parents have the option of settling this payment amount or taking the matter to court in which a judge will decide on the total amount that needs to be paid.

The upbringing and the development of a child is the responsibility of both parents as is the standard of living for the child. The child's welfare should be the primary responsibility of both the parents and as a result both of the parents should be responsible for the costs involved in the raising of a child, regardless of who the child lives with. Child support could end up being paid by either the mother or the father of the child; if the mother has sole custody of the child then it will be the responsibility of the father to pay child support and vice versa.

So in order to raise the standard of living child support was brought in; however the one problem that many paying parents have with child support is that the money is given straight to the other parent and not the child. It is due to this fact that many parents often refuse to make payments as they see it as a form of alimony as oppose to child support. The only reason that the payments are made to the parent is because they need to use the money to provide their child with food and clothes as well as to cover extra items such as school equipment and educational school trips.

If you do refuse to pay child support or if the child support is significantly late then you can be sued for contempt of court. If this situation does arise then it is important that you enlist the help of an experienced attorney as they will take the necessary steps to ensure that the payments reach you in full and on time.

The amount of money that should be paid in child support varies from case to case as the circumstances of each couple are extremely different but the way in which the amount is calculated for each couple is done in the same way and is based on the following:

• Mother's net income
• Father's net income
• Number of children involved
• Custodial arrangement
• Spousal support, if any
• All other child support obligations or custody arrangements of other children
• Health care costs
• Any child care costs

The amount of money that you pay in child support can be modified at any time, for example if your circumstances change or your income changes. These are just two of the reasons but for whatever reason always remember to consult your attorney for the legal advice needed to always make the best decision.