What is Child Support?
Child Support is the financial obligation of a parent to support their children by ensuring that they have a roof over their head, food in the fridge, access to education and medical care and supervision if both parents are working. This can include general support, medical insurance, daycare/ child care expenses.
Who Owes Child Support?
Child Support is the financial obligation of a parent to support their children. Child Support is a legal responsibility of a parent and a legal right of a child.
When is Child Support Due/Owed?
Child Support can begin as early as the day the child is born. If the child is older and there has not been a child support order previously entered, there may be a two-year look back period.
A child is entitled to support by the parents until the child reaches the age of 18, or graduates high school, whichever occurs later; however, it shall not extend beyond the age of 20. There are certain situations where the law may provide support to an adult child with a disability beyond the age of majority.
If you are paying child support on more than one child, the child support does not automatically decrease when a child ages out. In order for your child support obligation to decrease when a child ages out, you must take affirmative actions to attain a court order with a decreased amount of child support. Our attorneys are available to discuss this with you.
How is Child Support Calculated?
The Oklahoma Child Support Guidelines consider multiple factors when calculating child support including the income of the parties, the number of children involved, ongoing expenses such as child care, tuition, etc., and health care expenses associated with the children. You can find a link to a child support calculator on our resources page.
How Can I Get a Court Order for Child Support?
Child Support in Oklahoma can be ordered in administrative court (often called “DHS”) or in district court as part of a divorce or paternity case.
I Don’t Want My Ex to Spend Child Support on Him/Herself. How Do I Prevent That?
If you are ordered to pay child support, you cannot dictate how the child support is spent by the other party. However, failure by the other party to pay things like daycare bills and/or tuition and/or health insurance may be a violation of a court order at which point there may be certain remedies available.
My Ex is Not Paying Child Support- What Happens?
If there is a court order for child support, a parent who fails or refuses to pay their child support obligation can be cited for indirect contempt of court, which if found guilty can result in a $500 fine and/or up to six months in jail. Additionally, state licenses can be revoked, suspended or not renewed.