Political Issues: Child Support

Summary

A payment that a noncustodial parent makes as a contribution to the costs of raising her or his child.
In the mid-1990s, as never before, child support became a topic of urgent U.S. national discussion. The system that awards and enforces child support was declared inadequate by state and federal policy makers. Failures in the system were blamed for child poverty rates, long-term dependence on government assistance, and the "feminization of poverty." Courts drew criticism for awarding child support inconsistently and inequitably. These social and economic issues attracted both federal attention and reform efforts.
The need for child support payments usually arises when one parent does not have physical custody of his or her child, so that parent's income does not benefit the child on a daily basis. At times, neither parent has custody, and both may pay a third person who is caring for the child. When both of a child's parents have full custody (as when they are married to each other), and usually when they are divorced and share joint physical custody, the needs of the child are presumed met and child support is not an issue. As long as parents provide a safe level of care, the government does not control their contributions to their children.
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External Links to Child Support

Child SupportThe Family Justice Review Committee believes in a number of basic principles when it comes to the issue of child support. Some of these principles are: ...
Child Support Legislators are concerned with basic issues of fairness between parents. States must review their child support guidelines every four years.

Important Issues to Child Support

Child Support An unfortunate fact of economic life is that a family cannot live as cheaply divided as it can together.
Child Support The goal of the Department of Child Support Services is to establish and enforce fair and equitable child support orders.