What is child support?

Child support is a monthly payment that a judge can order a PARENT (including an adoptive parent) to make to another parent or caregiver to cover the child’s care and living expenses. State law says that every parent must financially support his or her child.[2530] Usually, the parent who does not have custody of the child (or who has custody some of the time and earns more money) pays child support to the parent or caregiver who has custody of the child most or all of the time.[2531]

  1. 2530

    Cal. Fam. Code § 3900. ↑

  2. 2531

    This is because Cal. Fam. Code § 3900 et seq. says both parents are expected contribute equally to their child’s financial needs. ↑