Who is eligible for child support?

In California, both parents are financially responsible for the support of their children. Therefore, anyone who is a parent of a child can be eligible to receive child support. Generally, a parent is either the birth mother or the birth father, but in some cases, the court may recognize someone other than the birth parents as a legal parent. To be eligible for child support, the child must live with the parent who is seeking support. The other parent must have enough money to afford the cost of supporting their child. If the other parent is unemployed or cannot afford the cost of support, then they cannot be ordered by a court to pay child support. In California, there is a legal responsibility for both parents to financially support their children until the child turns 18 or until the child graduates high school, whichever comes later. If a child is still in high school, a parent is responsible for providing child support until the child graduates or turns 19. In some cases, child support can continue after a child turns 18 if the child is still in high school, is physically or mentally disabled, or if the parents have agreed to provide child support beyond age 18. In California, child support can be legally enforced by the court. The court will determine the amount the non-custodial parent must pay based on their income, the number of children they are responsible for, and other factors. The court will make an order that specifies the support amount and how often the non-custodial parent must pay.

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Who is eligible for child support?

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