When you separate, one of the first things you should think about is child support. This is the amount of money that a court orders a parent, or both parents, to pay every month to help support the children.
Obviously, children need the financial support of both parents – to the extent that they are able to provide support. Maine’s child support laws attempt to fairly divide this responsibility between the parents. The law attempts to give children a fair standard of living based on the parents’ income levels.
This section explains some child support basics. It describes how to figure out what a parent should expect to pay or to receive. You will also find links to related services and resources.