Child support

Both parents of a separated family unit have a responsibility and are required to contribute to the support of their children to the extent that they are financially able.  The law makes no distinction between mothers and fathers.  Also, a parent cannot voluntarily remain unemployed or underemployed and then claim that they are without financial means to contribute to their children's support.  The main factors in determining the amount of child support to be paid are the parent's income and the amount of timesharing that the parent will have.  This being said, parents may agree that a parent's contributions to the support of their children will be provided in ways other than by child support payments from one parent to the other -- as long as the best interests of the children are not jeopardized.