Child Support After LGBQ Divorce/Separation

Child support is the financial sum provided by noncustodial parents in the aftermath of a divorce. This financial award, typically court mandated, covers basic living costs such as food, clothing,[Page 200] health, and education while the child is under the age of 18. In cases of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) divorce or separation, child support has often been decided through informal discussions, outside of a courtroom, although over the last 20 years it has become an emerging legal issue tied to same-sex marriage. The courts continue to rely on biological relatedness in acknowledging parental rights and obligations, and LGBQ divorce highlights the ways in which diverse family forms complicate divorce proceedings. This entry discusses child support, paying particular attention to the court’s distinct ...