Child Support Overview

Child support is established by court order. The amount of support is generally determined by guidelines provided by each state.

Once established, child support remains in effect at the rate determined by the initial court order unless and until modified by a subsequent order.

Child support is an enforceable legal obligation that may result in severe consequences for those who fail to pay, including jail.

Generally, a person must return to the court that initially entered the order establishing child support for any modifications, unless both parties and the child have left that state or if the parties agree to another state having jurisdiction.

For military families, child support is generally computed based upon all pay and allowances. Each branch has its own standards for enforcement of child support obligations. The parent with custody of the child will need to raise the issue of failure to support to the military commander.

A child support order may be paid directly from the obligor's paycheck to the recipient.

Every state has its own rules on when child support ends. A child support obligation normally ends when the child turns 18 years old and graduates from high school. Child support can also end upon the child's death or emancipation.