Child support is the amount of money that a court orders a parent or both parents to pay every month to help pay for the support of the child and the child’s living expenses.

• Explain court procedures for getting and changing child support orders.

• Calculate child support using the proper guidelines that are necessary for the financial needs of the child.

• Explain how the court decides child support.

Each parent is equally responsible for providing for the financial needs of his or her child. But the court cannot enforce this obligation until it makes an order for support.

Child support payments are usually charged until the children turn 18 (and may be longer depending on certain conditions such as education).

Child care is a separate expense that is usually incorporated into a parent’s child support obligation and that is usually paid based upon the respective percentages of each parent’s income. Child care expenses are usually ordered until August 31 following the child’s twelfth birthday.