Child Support

Both parents are mutually responsible for the support of their children. Equal responsibility exists regardless of which parent has custody of the child. However, it is presumed that a parent having primary physical responsibility for the children contributes a significant portion of available resources for the support of the children. The statewide uniform child support guideline, takes into account each parent's actual income and level of custodial responsibility for the children in setting child support amounts.

Parents may make agreements between themselves relating to their relative child support responsibilities. However, neither the court nor the children are bound by the agreement. Parents may not agree to waive or limit the right of a child to support. Nor may they agree to abrogate their own statutory duty to support a child, or attempt to divest the court of jurisdiction over child support. Parents may stipulate to a child support obligation and submit their agreement to the court for approval.