Child support, also called child maintenance, is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child after a marriage or other relationship ends. Child maintenance is usually paid directly or indirectly to a custodial parent, a caregiver, a guardian, or the state. Depending on the jurisdiction, a custodial parent may pay child support to a non-custodial parent, irrespective of gender. So a mother is required to pay support to a father just as a father must pay a mother. In cases of joint custody, the child is considered to have two custodial parents and whoever has a higher income may be required to pay the other.

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