What is the difference between child support and child maintenance?

Child support and child maintenance are both payments made by one parent to another for the support of a child. The main difference between the two is how the payments are used and what happens to them once they are received. Child support is a payment from one parent to another that is used to help pay for the day-to-day costs associated with raising a child. This includes food, clothing, shelter, medical expenses, and other necessities. In Michigan, the State Child Support Enforcement System (SCSES) is responsible for establishing and enforcing child support orders. Child maintenance is a payment from one parent to another that is used to help cover the costs associated with extracurricular activities, such as sports or music lessons. This payment is not as strictly enforced as child support payments and is often referred to as “voluntary” support. In Michigan, the courts do not require either parent to pay for child maintenance, so it is up to the two parents to work out an arrangement. Overall, the main difference between child support and child maintenance is that child support is a legally-binding payment that covers the costs associated with raising a child, while child maintenance is a voluntary payment that covers costs related to extracurricular activities.

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What is the difference between child support and child maintenance?

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