How is child support different from alimony?
Child support is money paid from one parent to another to help pay the expenses involved in raising a child. Alimony is money paid from one spouse to another to assist in living expenses. Child support is calculated by the court using a set of approved calculations and is a legal obligation. Alimony is also determined by the court, but there are no set calculations. Alimony is also not a legal obligation – collecting back alimony requires taking the non-paying spouse to small claims court whereas a parent not paying child support can get in serious legal trouble. Child support cannot be deducted from the paying parent’s taxes and is not claimed as income by the receiving parent. Alimony is deducted from the paying spouse’s taxes and must be claimed as income by the receiving spouse.
