Legal Definitions - child support

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.