Definition

Noun: 1. Financial support for children: A legal obligation, typically ordered by a court, for a parent to make regular payments to the custodial parent or guardian for the financial care and upbringing of their child or children following a separation or divorce.

Usage

• The term is used in legal and familial contexts to describe the mandated financial contribution from a non-custodial parent.
• It refers specifically to the monetary support for the child's needs, such as food, housing, education, and healthcare.

Examples

• The judge increased the child support payments due to the father's higher income.
• She relies on the monthly child support to cover the children's school expenses.
• Failure to pay court-ordered child support can result in legal penalties.

Advanced Usage

• "To be in arrears on child support": To owe past-due payments for child support.
  • He was taken to court for being in arrears on his child support.
• "Child support agreement": The legal document or court order detailing the terms of the support.
  • Their divorce settlement included a detailed child support agreement.

Variants and Related Words

• Alimony (n): Court-ordered financial support paid by one spouse to the other after divorce. (Note: This is distinct from child support, as alimony supports the former spouse, not the children).
• Maintenance (n): A broader legal term for financial support, which can include child support in some jurisdictions.

Synonyms

• Parental support
• Financial support for children

Related Phrases

• "To pay child support": The action of fulfilling the financial obligation.
  • He has a legal duty to pay child support until his daughter turns 18.
• "To receive child support": The action of obtaining the financial payments.
  • She uses the state's services to help receive child support from her ex-husband.
• "Child support enforcement": The system or actions taken to ensure payments are made.
  • The Office of Child Support Enforcement helped locate the absent parent.

Noun

1. court-ordered support paid by one spouse to the other who has custody of the children after the parents are separated