How long may a parent be required to make child support payments?

Child custody is a common issue that two parents who are divorcing may face. Often times when one parent is awarded child custody, the other parent may have to pay child support. When this happens, there are certain laws pertaining to child support that each state and the parents must adhere to.

In California, when a parent is ordered to pay child support, the length of time may vary from case to case. For example, a parent may be ordered to pay child support until the child is 18 years old, 19 years old or has married, has died or has become legally free.

Along with a parent having to pay child support for this predetermined amount of time, the state will also decide how much child support they will have to pay. This is done by examining the income levels of each parent and how much parenting time the parents have with the child.

Parents may not often agree on the child support amount that the court orders them to pay or the length of time. Should the parent have an issue with either the length of time they must pay child support or how much the payments are, they may take it up with the court. However, this does not necessarily mean that the order for child support will be altered.

If you are in the middle of a custody dispute and have concerns about child support, an attorney may be able to assist you. With there being different requirements for a parent who pays child support, both parents may want to be aware of what can affect the payments. Every case is different, so you may want to inquire with a lawyer specifically about your case and the factors that may affect child-support.