What is Child Support and how it is Paid.
Understanding who has to Pay Child Support and how it is Calculated
Oct 4, 2008
There are many different approaches to calculating child support, but regardless of where you live, how many children you have or whether or not you believe you should pay child support, the concept is the same. It cost a certain amount to raise a child and under ideal circumstances the father and mother would both contribute without being compelled to do so.
However that is not always the case. Parents divorce. Parents never marry. Regardless, children are entitled to be supported. Every state in the United States has an approach to determining child support. The method may require a set income percentage to be paid as child support, it may use a sliding scale, it may use child support guidelines or it may be a case by case basis for determining the amount.
Simply put, child support is an amount of money paid by one parent to the other for the benefit of the child. Any person who is the parent of a child and who does not live primarily with, regardless of marital status, the other parent, the custodial parent is usually entitled to receive child support.
Calculating Child Support
In states where the percentage approach is used, the non-custodial parent’s gross (note that when calculating child support the gross income figure is almost always used) income is determined then multiplied by the set percentage amount. The percentage may be higher when more than one child is to be supported and this is paid to the custodial parent.
In child support guideline states when calculating child support, the number of children is determined together with the gross income of each parent. Using a predetermined guideline, a child support figure is determined which is paid to the custodial parent.
Additional Support Expenses
In addition to the basic child support obligation, there are other additional expenses that may be considered and which may add to the total support obligation. For instance, health insurance premiums are generally allocated between the parties as are work related day care expenses and extraordinary medical expenses.
Accounting and Receipts
Many times parties paying child support what to see receipts to see where their money is going and how it is being used. This rarely if ever happens. While child support may be used to buy clothes or other items directly for the children, it is impossible to determine how much went to gas, rent, mortgage or utilities.
The opposite side of this position is the complaint made by many receiving child support that the amount received is not sufficient or adequate. Unfortunately so long as the state requirements as to the appropriate amount are being paid, there is little that can be done. As well, child support is designed to cover a vast number of things so it is difficult if not impossible to receive child support plus extra for other expenses.
Overall child support is designed to make sure that a parent fulfills their financial responsibility to their children. If a person is a parent of a child then they will have an obligation to support that child and, unless they are living with, married to the other parent or otherwise with the other parent, they will have an legally enforceable obligation to support their child.
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