Family LawChild Support |
Can a court require a parent to pay child support? |
Yes, a court can require the noncustodial parent (the parent without primary or legal custody) to provide reasonable child support—including medical expenses. Before child support can be imposed on a person, there must be an establishment of parenthood. In most instances, a mother seeks to establish paternity of the alleged father of her child. Once paternity is established—usually by testing—then child support can be imposed upon the so-called father.