Legal Definitions - decretal child support

Decretal child support refers to the financial obligation of a parent to contribute to the maintenance and education of their child until they reach the age of majority, are emancipated before reaching majority, or complete their secondary education. This obligation can be enforced both civilly and criminally.

In the context of a custody or divorce action, decretal child support is the money that one parent is legally required to pay to the other for the expenses incurred for the children of the marriage. It is important to note that the right to child support belongs to the child and cannot be waived, and any provision in a divorce decree that waives child support is void.

For example, if a couple with two children gets divorced, the court may order the father to pay decretal child support to the mother to help cover the expenses of raising the children. The amount of child support will depend on various factors, such as the income of both parents and the needs of the children.