Child support is payment from one spouse to another for support of the children after a divorce or separation. Child support payments are determined by several factors, including the needs of the children, income of the parent with custody, income of the parent without custody, and the standard of living before the divorce.

Child Support & Paternity
Child support is defined as a payment made from one parent to the other for support of their children after a divorce or separation. Child support payments are usually made from the parent who does not have custody of the children to the parent who does.

Determination of Child Support
The amount of child support paid is usually based on the incomes of both parents and how much time the children spend with each parent. For instance, if the mother earns less money than the father and the children spend more time with her, the father will generally pay more child support. However, it is important to remember that this will not always be the case, and that the courts determine the amount of child support awarded on a case-by-case basis. There are several factors the court takes into consideration when determining child support. These include:

Income of the parent without custody - the court will take into account how much the parent makes and how much they can afford to pay.
Income of the parent with custody - the court will take into account how much the parent makes and how much further support is needed to take care of the children.
Needs of the children - this includes healthcare, education, and other special needs.
Standard of living before the divorce - this applies only to the children. The court takes the parents' standard of living into account when determining alimony awards.
For further guidance on child support and child custody issues contact an experienced family lawyer today.

What about Paternity?
Since fathers usually pay child support, it may be important to establish paternity. Fathers that may be required to pay child support include:

Acknowledged father - the biological father of children born to unmarried parents.
Presumed father - there are four conditions in which a man can be presumed to be the father of a child:
The man was married to the mother of a child when it was conceived or born
The man attempted to marry the mother of a child when it was conceived or born
The man married the mother of the child after it was born and agreed to have his name put on the birth certificate or agreed to support the child
The man welcomed the child into his home after it was born and considered the child as his own
Equitable father - a father who is not the biological or adoptive father of a child, but who has a close relationship with the child that is encouraged by the biological parents.
Unwed father - a man who does not marry the woman who bears his child.
If you are interested in learning more about child support and paternity, you may want to contact a family law attorney for more information.

WEB SITE LIST ON CHILD SUPPORT

Almanac of Policy Issues: Child Support - News, background information, and links on child support policy.

American Center for Child Support Reform - Argues that non-custodial parents have been unfairly targeted by the courts and policymakers. Articles, message board, and support groups.

Bridging Borders - A non-profit organization dedicated solely to the issue of international child support (maintenance) enforcement.

Child Support Central - Deadbeat parent listings with personal stories, resources and support.

Child Support Central - A site for custodial parents seeking child support. News, membership, and message board.

Child Support Enforcement: An Overview - An overview of child support enforcement in the United States.

The Child Support Enforcement Process - A step-by-step, in-depth description of the child support enforcement process in the US, including locating absent parents, establishing paternity, setting child support orders, and child support collection.

Child Support Options - Newsletter of the National Coalition for Child Support Options.

Child Support Reduction - Argues that support awards are often unfair and biased - not every dad is a "deadbeat".

Deadbeat Dads and Deadbeat Moms - Child support wanted posters and deadbeat dads and deadbeat moms pictures in the USA and Canada

Families Against Deadbeats - A Canadian organization formed to assist parents with child support issues, and to lobby for change in legislation.

Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement - Information and links concerning government programs.

For Our Children and Us (FOCUS) - A New York based organization that provides free paralegal services to men and women in matters of child support and other family law matters.

Guide to Child Support Guidelines on the Web - A comprehensive directory to child support guidelines available on the World Wide Web.

History of Child Support in the USA - Historic timeline and references.

Improving Child Well-Being - A report focusing on low-income noncustodial parents in Maryland, the child support system, and changes to facilitate compliance by low income fathers.

International Child Support - Help page dedicated to the growing issue of International Child Support.

IWantMyChildSupport Inc. - Help and advice on collecting unpaid child support payments, including printable forms.

Joseph Sefton Duncan, II - Biological father to 13-yr. old girl has evaded a child support order and is on the run from authorities in the New York area.

KnowX.com: The Ultimate People Finder - Comprehensive source of public records for researching deadbeat dads.

Levy, Carol - Personal homepage sharing experiences of getting unpaid child support from a deadbeat dad. Includes resources and links for others seeking unpaid child support.

National Child Support Enforcement Association - Non-profit promoter of child support enforcement.

Oregon Division of Child Support - Enhances the well-being of children and promotes positive parental involvement by providing child support program services to families in Oregon.

Project for the Improvement of Child Support Litigation Technology - Research project on the science, engineering, and application of child support guidelines.

Reform Our Courts for Kids - Newsgroup which discusses effective ways to reform the current American judicial system.

Responsible Adults Against Deadbeats Organization - Organization which seeks to promote the rights of custodial parents.