What is child support?
Child support is the money that one parent pays the other parent to support their child.
To get child support, you must start a child-support case. You can do this on your own or with your local child support agency (LCSA).
Money and Child Support
What kind of care does my parent or guardian have to give me?
Your parent or guardian must:
- give you food, clothing, shelter, and any needed health care,
- supervise you, and
- give you a safe place to live,
What amount of child support can I get?
The amount of child support depends mostly on
- each parent’s income,
- whether either parent is paying for child care or health insurance, and
- how much time the child spends with each parent.
What if the other parent does not have a job or money?
If the other parent is not working, but could work, the amount of support will be based on minimum wage or the wage of his/her previous job. If the other parent could work, the court may order the other parent to look for work. If that happens, s/he will have to go back to court or the child-support office to report on his/her work search.
If the other parent is a minor, will they have to pay child support?
Most courts wait for parents who are minors under 18 to finish high school before ordering them to pay child support. But if the other parent has a job or other income, the court can probably order support.
Does the other parent have to pay child support if the child doesn’t live with them?
Yes.
Parents must support their children, even if they do not live with or spend time with them.
How do I get child support from the other parent?
You can
- make an agreement with the other parent, or
- ask for a court order.
It’s usually better to ask for a court order.
How will the court know if the man I name is the father?
There are different ways to prove a man is your child’s legal father:
- he and you were married when the baby was born,
- he signed a Voluntary Declaration of Paternity, and/or
- a DNA test.