Child Support Overview
Non-custodial parents are required by law to pay a monthly allowance, or child support, to help the custodial parent cover their child's expenses. An order of child support may follow a divorce or a determination of paternity. This section contains general information about child support law, including a glossary of legal terms and a primer on how a child support lawyer may help.
- Guide to Getting Child Support [pdf]
Basics on obtaining child support, support amounts, what it covers and modifying child support
- Eligibility for Child Support
Basics on who qualifies for child support, including important factors like paternity and custodial status
- Child Support Agreements
Discusses ways to resolve child support situations out of court, including through negotiation and mediation
- Court Ordered Child Support
Explanation of how courts issues orders for child support and what these orders do
- How to Calculate Child Support
Basics on the guidelines by which states calculate the amount of child support owed
- Child Support Enforcement FAQ
Frequent questions with answers on the collection of unpaid child support
- Child Support Modification FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions on when it is possible to change the amount of child support owed