Child Support

College and Vocational Education

Parents have an equal legal and moral obligation to support their children to the best of their ability. Parents are responsible for the nurturing and support of their children. Each child has the right to be supported regardless of any court action or agreement made by the parents. A parent cannot make a deal that would change their basic responsibility of supporting the child.

It does not matter what parents agree on about support. They can not make a deal such as "if you give me the house, I'll take care of the child," or "if you promise not to see the child, give me sole custody, you won't have to pay child support." These deals are invalid because every child is entitled to the nurturing and financial support of both parents.

Child support usually begins when parents stop living together. It is customary for the person who has a higher income and ability to pay to provide financial support to the other parent for that child. The parent receiving the support is usually the primary care giver.

If you are the person providing child support, you should always pay by check and keep good records. It may be necessary to prove that you have been contributing to the child's well being. Child support can also be paid to the State Disbursement Unit which provides a centralized location for receiving, disbursing and tracking payments of child support.