Legal Definitions - Family Support Act of 1988

The Family Support Act of 1988 is a law that requires states to create and enforce guidelines for child support. This means that each state must have a set of rules that determine how much money a parent must pay to support their child.

For example, if a parent gets divorced and has custody of their child, the other parent may be required to pay child support. The amount of child support they have to pay will be determined by the state's guidelines.

The purpose of the Family Support Act of 1988 is to ensure that children receive the financial support they need from both parents, even if they are no longer together. By creating guidelines for child support, the law helps to make sure that parents are held accountable for providing for their children.