A parents’ guide to child support in Australia

How to handle child custody or support and going through a separation with a child?

Whether you are giving or receiving, child maintenance payments are a major concern for people going over a separation period. In Australia, it is probable that equally parents have an obligation to financially sustenance their children after a separation or divorce in Australia.

Child support is a difficult area of law, and each condition is unique. Here are some of the key details at a look:

  • The Department of Human Services (DHS) handles requests for child support
  • Child support expenditures are calculated with a composite formula, and each case is exceptional
  • You can create a Child Support Agreement with your previous partner devoid of the DHS

Keep reading our open child support guide to further your considerate.


Understanding child support in Australia


The purpose of child support in Australia is to confirm that the comfort of children is properly maintained, and both parents are meeting duties to financially sustenance their children after a separation.

As such, it’s typically in everyone’s best notice to come to a friendly agreement with your ex-partner about child support expenditures. Creating a Child Support Agreement without the contribution of the DHS is often less worrying, but this is not permanently conceivable if parents are in disagreement.

If you can’t agree on the expanse of child support with your partner, then you will necessity to have a child support valuation over the DHS.

See the DHS website for more information about getting a child support assessment or talk to our Family Lawyers for advice.

How is child support calculated in Australia?

The DHS uses a very compound plan to calculate child support expenditures. Every situation is distinctive, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. If you want to estimation what your child support expenditures may be preceding to creating a child support assessment, DHS use online calculator to estimate the child support payable.

Some of other factors the DHS will study when calculating child support expenditures for your case contain:

  • The number of children you have
  • Age of each child
  • Your income and your ex partner’s income
  • Each parent’s calculation of the care
  • Each parent’s percentage of the cost

Once the DHS has measured all the financial info and the care preparations, they will calculate which parent essentials to pay child support and how much amount to pay.

Faqs about child support payments

How much do you have to pay in child support?

This depends on the conditions of your care provisions and your income, as well as some other factors. To find out the answer for your settings, you will need to have a child support calculation over the DHS or talk to a family lawyer for advice.

What is the maximum child support in Australia?

The extreme child support amount is designed using the joint income of both parents, up to 2.5 times the yearly equal of the Male Total Normal Weekly Earnings. Refer to the Australian Government Child Support Guide, for a detailed overview.

What age do you stop paying child support in Australia?

Child support expenditures normally end when a child turns age 18. If your child is quiet in high school, you can apply to cover the child support payments until the finish of the school year.

Talk to our Family Lawyers for advice

Going through a divorce is difficult and worrying, and financial hesitation doesn’t help. Whether you will be paying or getting child support payments, we can help you come to a fair plan with your former partner. Contact us!