Child support refers to the sum of the money a parent who is not custodial must pay to cover the child with the custodian. The money serves as the parental contribution to providing for the child’s basic needs and expenses such as food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and education. Child support is paid to support children who are divorced or separated and are minors.
Pros of child support
1. Take off the financial pressure. Regular child support maintenance helps remove the pressure from the child’s custodian or the parent with the child’s care, as sharing the expenses helps reduce the cost of the basic needs required by the child.
2. Way of strengthening commitment to the child. Paying child support maintenance shows the non-custodian parent cares for the child while they retain some form of contact with the child. For non-resident parents, understanding their responsibility as a parent acts as a way to ensure their commitment to their child and is a more acceptable way of keeping in contact.
3. Support the child. Paying child support is an obligation of the parent to take care of their children and provide them with their basic needs; hence, parents should not be allowed to fulfill their obligations independently. Raising a child can be expensive, so it is crucial to provide an avenue for supporting the child no matter the parents’ situation.
4. Ensure the basic needs are met. Child support is devoted to helping the child’s well-being and covering the cost of their necessities, including food, shelter and clothing, medical costs, and education. Child support could also be used to pay for fun activities for the child to support their healthy being and promote a sense of normality after a profound change such as divorce and separation.
5. Prevent future issues. Child support helps the family shield itself from legal actions such as wage garnishments and jail time by promoting financial stability and preventing the parent from returning to court due to disputes over money.
6. Growth and development. Child support is essential for a child as they can actively grow when they see their parents cooperating and providing the necessary support and resources.
7. Security and certainty. Providing child support to the custodian’s parents helps them feel the security that the child is provided for and has the best care even for the future or as they age 18 and above.
Cons of child support
1. Adverse effects of the relationship. Not paying child support could affect the relationship between parents and the child’s future, especially if one of the parents is financially unstable.
2. Court issues. Lack of paying child support may cause the child’s custodian to seek legal justice, particularly if the parent refuses to pay. This entails one going into the trial, which can cause stress and be costly. Hiring an attorney is expensive and could lead to legal consequences such as license suspension and wage garnishments.
3. It is expensive. If the parent does not want to pay the child support, it could require the parent to hire an attorney, transport, and the trials, which would cost money. This is experienced in contentious cases.
4. Disputes. Lack of paying child support could cause disputes among the parents, which could affect the child’s basic needs and well-being. Not paying child support has consequences, such as suspension of licenses.
