Child support is a court-ordered financial payment made by one parent to the other to help cover the expenses of raising a child which includes:

• Housing
• Food
• Clothing
• Education
• Medical care
• Childcare

Virginia uses the “Child Support Guidelines”, a formula which considers the following factors to determine a presumed amount of support, but the court can deviate from the guidelines if special circumstances exist:

• Combined gross monthly income of both parents
• Number of children requiring support
• Custody arrangement (shared, sole, or split custody)
• Health insurance costs for the child
• Work-related childcare expenses

Typically, the non-custodial parent i.e the parent who spends less time with the child will pay support to the custodial parent, who provides the child’s primary residence. However, in shared custody arrangements, support obligations of the parent can vary based on income levels and parenting time percentages.

Child support is not set in stone. If your financial situation or parenting arrangement changes, you may request a modification of your existing support order. Valid reasons to seek a change include:

• Job loss or income change
• Changes in custody or visitation
• Medical emergencies or disability
• A child turning 18 or becoming emancipated

If a parent is not paying court-ordered support, enforcement measures can be taken by Virginia’s Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) including:

• Wage garnishment
• Seizure of tax refunds
• Suspension of driver’s or professional licenses
• Contempt of court proceedings

Child support generally ends when the child turns 18, unless either of the following circumstances arise:

• The child is still in high school full-time (support continues until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first).
• The child is disabled and unable to support themselves — in which case support may be extended.