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Simple English definitions for legal terms
child support
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A quick definition of child support:
Child support is money that a parent who doesn't live with their child has to pay to the parent who does. This money helps pay for things like food, clothes, a place to live, healthcare, and school. The court decides how much the non-custodial parent has to pay based on things like the child's age, needs, and the parents' income. The non-custodial parent has to pay the money to the custodial parent, not directly to the child. Child support usually stops when the child turns 18, but some states have different rules. The court can also order the non-custodial parent to pay for things like medical bills, vacations, and private school. If the non-custodial parent doesn't pay, the court can make them pay by taking money from their paycheck or holding them in contempt of court.
A more thorough explanation:
Child support refers to the money that a noncustodial parent must pay to the custodial parent to contribute to the child's basic living expenses, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education. The court orders the parent to pay child support directly to the custodian, not to the child. The obligation to pay child support ends when the child reaches the age of 18 in most states.
- John and Jane have a child together, but they are no longer together. The court orders John to pay child support to Jane to help with their child's expenses.
- Mike has a stepchild, but he is not legally obligated to pay child support for the stepchild unless he formally adopts the child.
- The court determines the amount of child support based on the child's age, health and educational needs, and the standard of living the child would have enjoyed if the family had continued living together.
The examples illustrate that child support is a legal obligation for noncustodial parents to contribute to their child's basic living expenses. The amount of child support varies based on the unique circumstances of each case, and the court determines the amount based on the child's needs and the parents' financial resources.