CHILD SUPPORT

Child Support Obligations

Child Support Obligations

Introduction

The child support is the obligation of ensuring continued economic well-being of children born of a relationship or marriage that no longer exists. In general, results from a divorce, separation or annulment, which is assigned custody to one parent or both parents share custody. More likely is that the parent not having custody is required to provide financial assistance. When both parents do not have the custody of the child and the child is under the care of another, it can receive support. Generally, states are not obligated to pay child support over 18 years of age. This paper answers the question that should child support obligations be based on the biological, legal and/or social relationship between an adult and child?

Discussion

The child support obligations differ in every country. During the custody cases, a judgment can be one in a certain case while another in the different case. It all depends upon the situation of each case. The trial court set the amount of periodic payments that the parent must pay. The amount varies depending on the specific circumstances, such as the child's age, medical and educational needs, and the standard of living the child would have had if the family had not been separated (Sampson & Brooks, 2002). The method of calculating the amount to be paid for the support of minor children varies by state.

However, generally, the custody of the children is given to the mother and the father financially supports the child. If a biological father who had sexual intercourse with the child's mother once and never had any relationship with the mother or child have a legal obligation to support the child (Zmijewski, 2003). While, a same sex partner who has no biological relationship with the child or legal relationship with ...