{"id":351681,"date":"2016-04-04T11:02:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/family\/child-support\/child-support-basics.html"},"modified":"2024-12-09T15:54:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T20:54:00","slug":"child-support-basics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/child-support\/child-support-basics.html","title":{"rendered":"Child Support Basics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Child Support Basics<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Danielle Gilmore, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Parents have an obligation to financially provide for their children, even after a divorce. Child support helps to ensure the proper care of the minor child. If the divorcing or separating parents cannot agree on child support, the court will make a determination.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Child Support Basics<\/h2>\n

Parents have an obligation to financially provide for their children, even after a divorce. Child support helps to ensure the proper care of the minor child. If the divorcing or separating parents cannot agree on child support, the court will make a determination.<\/p>\n

Unmarried parents and the State may also file to establish paternity and child support in court. Less frequently, when neither parent has custody, the court may order them to pay child support to a third party who has custody of the child.<\/p>\n

Child custody often controls which parent receives support and which parent pays support. In most cases, the person with physical custody<\/a> of the child receives child support.<\/p>\n

State law gives every child the\u00a0legal right to child support<\/a>. This means that they are entitled to financial support from their parents. Child support payments go toward the child’s proper care and upbringing, regardless of who actually incurs living expenses. You can think of the expenses as groups:<\/p>\n