December 9, 2019

If two people have a child, and they no longer live together, whether it’s because they are getting a divorce, a legal separation, or they were never together to begin with, then they will need to formulate a child custody agreement. Child support will also be determined based on who gets custody.

What is a Child Custody Agreement?

A child custody agreement is a document that outlines the guidelines determined for custody of a child or children. It generally includes instructions concerning who has primary custody of the child, who has legal custody, whether custody is split equally or whether one parent will have more custody time than the other, and what the visitation schedules will be for the parent who doesn’t have primary custody.

What is Child Support?

Raising a child can be very expensive. It can be even more expensive if there’s more than one child. Generally speaking, the parent with primary custody of the child ends up paying most of the costs associated with raising a child. These expenses include the costs of food, clothing, education, healthcare, and more. The parent who does not have primary custody generally doesn’t pay directly for these things as a result; however, they are obligated to help with the costs of raising the child (or children), which is why they are legally required to pay child support.

Child support is important because it helps to reduce poverty and financial insecurity among children and their custodial parents. It also helps to reduce public spending on welfare as a result of preventing single-parent families from entering the welfare system. Additionally, many experts believe that child support also helps improve family relationships since it tends to increase the involvement of noncustodial parents in the lives of their children.

One thing that’s important to understand is that child support isn’t meant to just cover the essentials of raising a child. Child support can cover a range of expenses, including necessities, educational fees, medical care, childcare, entertainment, travel, transportation, college expenses, and extracurricular activities.

How Much Child Support Is Required?

There are a lot of different factors that determine how much child support a non-custodial parent is required to pay. Different states have different guidelines regarding the amount of child support that may be required. Some of these factors include how much the non-custodial parent makes as well as what they can afford to pay. Additionally, the actual financial needs of the child (or children) along with the amount of support that’s needed to maintain the child’s (or children’s) existing standard of living.

Speak with a Divorce Attorney Today

If you’re going through a divorce and need professional guidance regarding your child custody agreement or child support requirements, please contact my office to schedule a free consultation in Toledo, OH, today. I can provide you with legal advice regarding all of your child custody and child support needs.