The courts, where appropriate and necessary, determine the amount of child support that a party is going to pay. This determination is based on a plethora of factors that the court has to view and review prior to making any decision on child support. Child support is centered on the financial needs of the child. The court looks at how the child was provided for before the divorce and takes steps to ensure that the child's lifestyle is not adversely impacted because of their parents splitting up. Some people that have to make support payments tend to think that having to pay child support is a form of punishment. Clearly that is not the intent of child support and is not viewed as such by the courts.
No one, regardless of who they are or how much money they make, can escape a court order to pay child support. Case in point, NFL player, Devon Still, who has been the news recently because of his young daughter and her fight against cancer, has allegedly not made a child support payment in quite some time. According to the mother of the child, although Still has been diligent about spending time with his daughter, he has not been so diligent with payments. The mother claims that Still told her that he wasn't going to pay. Ultimately, this matter will end up in the courts if some type of agreement is not reached.
Not all cases involving issues like support and custody have to go before a tribunal. There are many instances where the parties to the breakup can agree on child support matters as well as child custody matters. Divorcing couples that have maintained a reasonably amicable relationship can settle matters outside of the courtroom although this is not the norm. Major points of contention in most divorces are support and custody, which is why the courts have to have set rules and guidelines when it comes to resolving these issues.
Raising a child is expensive whether you have both parents or not. Child support makes sure that there is shared financial responsibility between the parties.