What is the difference between child support and child maintenance?

Child support and child maintenance are two different legal terms that both describe financial payments made towards the support of a child. In Virginia, child support refers to the financial obligations that a non-custodial parent has to contribute to the overall costs of raising a child. These payments are often determined by a court of law and are meant to cover the basic costs such as food, clothing, and shelter. Child maintenance, on the other hand, refers to the additional payments that a non-custodial parent may be legally obligated to pay. These payments may include medical expenses, educational expenses, or extra-curricular activities. Furthermore, child maintenance payments may also be decided through the court system or be agreed upon as part of a private settlement. To sum up, the primary difference between child support and child maintenance is that child support is the minimum amount of financial obligation that one parent must pay towards raising a child, while child maintenance are any additional payments that the non-custodial parent can be ordered by a court or agree to pay.

Related FAQs

What is a motion to modify child support?
Can I receive retroactive child support payments?
Are arrearages for child support dischargeable in bankruptcy?
Are attorney’s fees tax deductible for child support payments?
What are the legal rights of a parent who pays child support?
What is the effect of disability on a child support order?
How does a non-custodial parent prove child support payments?
How can parents adjust a child support order?
What is the difference between an administrative and court order of child support?
How will a change in my income affect my child support payments?

What is the difference between child support and child maintenance?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts