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child support :: legal definition


Child support - n. court-ordered funds to be paid by one parent to the custodial parent of a minor child after divorce (dissolution) or separation. Usually the dollar amounts are based on the income of both parents, the number of children, the expenses of the custodial parent, and any special needs of the child. In many states or locales the amount is determined by a chart which factors in all these figures. It may also include health plan coverage, school tuition or other expenses, and may be reduced during periods of extended visitation such as summer vacations. Child support generally continues until the child reaches 18 years, graduates from high school, is emancipated (no longer lives with either parent), or, in some cases, for an extended period such as college attendance. The amount and continuation of support may be changed by the court upon application of either party depending on a proved change of circumstance of the parents or child. Child support should not be confused with alimony (spousal support) which is for the ex-spouse's support. Child support is not deductible from gross income for tax purposes (but may allow a dependent exemption) nor is it taxed as income, unlike alimony, which is deductible by the payer and taxed as the adult recipient's income.

See also: alimony change of circumstances child custody divorce spousal support and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

ad litem :: adj. legal Latin meaning "for the purposes of the ... of age. See also: guardian ad litem
adjusted basis :: n. in accounting, the original cost of an asset ad ... s taxes. See also: basis income tax
adoption :: n. the taking of a child into one's family, creati ... the child are met. See also: adopt
alimony :: n. support paid by one ex-spouse to the other as o ... ild support divorce spousal support
bad debt :: n. an uncollectible debt. The problem is to determ ... ust no income on which to be taxed.
change of circumstances :: n. the principal reason for a court modifying (ame ... ild support divorce spousal support
child custody :: n. a court's determination of which parent, relati ... pport custody divorce joint custody
collateral :: 1) n. property pledged to secure a loan or debt, u ... ral to the Colorado divorce action.
deduction :: n. an expenditure which an income tax payer may su ... dded together, reduce the tax owed.
dependent :: 1) n. a person receiving support from another pers ... dent on the expert being available.
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
divorce :: 1) n. the termination of a marriage by legal actio ... y separate property spousal support
domestic relations :: n. a polite term for the legal field of divorce, d ... port and alimony. See also: divorce
emancipation :: n. freeing a minor child from the control of paren ... vorced parent to pay child support.
exemption :: n. 1) in income taxation, a credit given for each ... l children or is a college student.
foster child :: n. a child without parental support and protection ... local government or a state agency.
gross income :: n. in calculating income tax, the income of an ind ... in net income. See also: income tax
guardian :: n. a person who has been appointed by a judge to t ... torship. See also: conservator ward
head of household :: n. 1) in federal income tax law, the person filing ... n or daughter. 3) "head of family."
heir :: n. one who acquires property upon the death of ano ... y pretermitted heir succession will
income :: n. money, goods or other economic benefit received ... ernment and most state governments.
income tax :: n. a tax on an individual's net income, after dedu ... al government. See also: income tax
interlocutory decree :: n. a court judgment which is temporary and not int ... ppeared to waste the parties' time.
joint custody :: n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (of ... em. See also: child custody divorce
joint tenancy :: n. a crucial relationship in the ownership of real ... ty property tenancy in common title
kidnapping :: (also spelled kidnaping) n. the taking of a person ... but now applies to adults as well.
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
legal separation :: n. a court-decreed right to live apart, with the r ... n is rarely used. See also: divorce
limited partnership :: n. a special type of partnership which is very com ... mited liability partner partnership
marital deduction :: n. an estate tax deduction allowed a surviving spo ... community property estate tax trust
marriage :: n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony b ... of time without legal formalities.
palimony :: n. a substitute for alimony in cases in which the ... the relationship. See also: alimony
parens patriae :: (paa-rens pat-tree-eye) n. Latin for "father of hi ... pport custody divorce guardian ward
parental neglect :: n. a crime consisting of acts or omissions of a pa ... usive or sexually predatory person.
pretermitted heir :: n. the child of a person who has written a will in ... cified $10,000 each. See also: heir
recapture :: n. in income tax, the requirement that upon sale o ... capital gains. See also: income tax
reformation :: n. the correction or change of an existing documen ... neral partner sues for reformation.
separation agreement :: n. an agreement between two married people who hav ... divorce legal separation separation
spousal support :: n. payment for support of an ex-spouse (or a spous ... but two. See also: alimony divorce
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
tax :: n. a governmental assessment (charge) upon propert ... unified estate and gift tax use tax
ward :: n. 1) a person (usually a minor) who has a guardia ... ouncil district. See also: guardian
wrongful death :: n. the death of a human being as the result of a w ... ual beneficiaries (family members).

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - C

C.I.F. :: n. the total of cost, insurance and freight charge ... aid on goods purchased and shipped.
calendar :: 1) n. the list of cases to be called for trial bef ... clerk of the court calendars cases.
calendar call :: n. the hearing at which a case is set for trial. ... g at which a case is set for trial.
call :: n. the demand by a corporation that a stockholder ... assessment on shares already owned.
calumny :: n. the intentional and generally vicious false acc ... 's reputation. See also: defamation
cancel :: v. to cross out, annul, destroy, void and/or resci ... g, so that it cannot be used again.
cancellation :: cancel ... cancel
caning :: n. a punishment for crimes employed in certain Asi ... last century in the United States.
canon law :: n. laws and regulations over ecclesiastical (churc ... nduct with no religious connection.
cap :: n. slang for maximum, as the most interest that ca ... "adjustable rate" promissory note.
capital :: 1) n. from Latin for caput, meaning "head," the ba ... count capital assets stock in trade
capital account :: n. the record which lists all basic assets of a bu ... or the alleged value of good will.
capital assets :: n. equipment, property, and funds owned by a busin ... . See also: capital capital account
capital expenditure :: n. payment by a business for basic assets such as ... y intended to improve productivity.
capital gains :: n. the difference between the sales price and the ... so: basis delayed exchange exchange
capital investment :: capital expenditure ... capital expenditure
capital offense :: n. any criminal charge which is punishable by the ... . See also: bail capital punishment
capital punishment :: n. execution (death) for a capital offense. The U. ... or death. See also: capital offense
capital stock :: n. the original amount paid by investors into a co ... price. See also: corporation stock
capitalization :: n. 1) the act of counting anticipated earnings and ... for conversion into capital assets.