The Department of Human Services assess parents for child support. The Court decides on child maintenance applications and other specific matters pertaining to child support.
Child support and child maintenance are financial support that is given by their parents for the care of a child. Child support is given to the carer for the upkeep of a child who is below 18 years old while child maintenance is for the support of a child who is already above 18.
The matter of child support is mainly under the umbrella of functions of the Department of Human Services (DHS). It is this branch of government that takes charge in making an administrative assessment for child support based primarily on the income of the parents.
Since the assessment of child support is the work of the DHS, there are specific applications concerning child support that can be brought to the court.
A person may file an action in court that he is not the parent of the child and thus, not liable for child support.
Parents of children who are already 18 years old but are still completing their education will be liable to continuing paying for child maintenance. The application for child maintenance orders can be filed with the Family Court. An order may also be made for the support of a child above 18 who is unable to financially support himself because of a mental or physical disability.
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