Child Support Agreement: What is it?

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A child support agreement outlines financial payments made by one parent to the other for child care. It can be reached privately or through legal services and can include consequences for breaking the agreement. The terms vary but usually include the amount and duration of payments, as well as handling incidental expenses. Payments can continue until the child becomes an adult or longer in certain circumstances.

A child support agreement outlines the details regarding the payments one parent will make to the other as they assume the bulk of the responsibility for child care. Such arrangements are usually made when the parents live in separate homes. The terms usually allow the recipient to continue receiving payments until the children become adults, but can sometimes extend longer. In some cases, these agreements are reached privately and in other cases public or legal services are involved.

It is common for couples to have children and decide to raise them while living apart. As a result, the parent with whom the child predominantly resides may require a contract outlining the terms of financial payments to be made by the other parent. This is known as a child support agreement. These contracts are often used to eliminate any confusion and debate regarding the finances the paying parent will provide for the child. They can also be used to provide a reason for legal action in the event that the paying parent does not adhere to the agreement.

Without a child support agreement, it can be difficult to hold a person accountable for not doing what they promised or for not providing enough financial assistance. Once the agreement is in place, however, there are many actions that can be taken if the paying parent breaks the agreement. Consequences include the enforcement of liens on his personal property, loss of professional licenses and imprisonment. More remedies are usually available when a default occurs while a person has a contract that was developed with the assistance of child support services.

Every child support deal is not reached by the same means. Two people can sit down and define their own terms for the financial care of their children. In some cases, the settlements stem from other legal issues such as custody battles or legal separations and involve lawyers and the courts. Child support services are often used when one parent is dissatisfied with the financial assistance provided by the other or when they fear that the other parent will not act appropriately.

The exact terms of a child support agreement can vary, but some aspects tend to be fairly standard. The children to whom it refers are usually named. The contract tends to include the amount the receiving parent should expect on a weekly or monthly basis. Some agreements have additional amounts that should be provided throughout the year for special occasions such as birthdays or school purchases. Also often included is how incidental expenses such as medical care or extracurricular activities will be handled.

A child support agreement usually authorizes the recipient to continue receiving payments until the child becomes an adult. In some cases, such as when your child enrolls in secondary education programs, payments can continue for several years beyond adulthood. When a child has a lifelong disability, such as mental retardation, the agreement may extend throughout the child’s life. There are circumstances which may allow the amount to be adjusted during the term of the contract. This is more common when one parent has a significant change in income.




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