Typically, which parent receives child support?

The parent who receives child support is typically the one with whom the child resides most of the time. This arrangement serves the primary purpose of ensuring that the child's day-to-day needs are met. When a court determines child support obligations, it considers the custodial arrangement, which usually means that the custodial parent — the one primarily responsible for the child's care and living expenses — receives the support payments.

This structure is designed to create stability in the child's living situation, allowing the custodial parent to have the necessary resources to provide for the child’s needs, including housing, food, clothing, education, and healthcare. Child support calculations often reflect not just the financial capacity of the non-custodial parent, but the actual living arrangements and the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

Other options may suggest different standards, but they do not align with the basis upon which child support is typically awarded. The financial contribution, the initiator of the court order, and equal sharing principles do not govern the distribution of child support payments; instead, the focus remains on the child's primary residence and welfare.