What is the primary purpose of child support?

The primary purpose of child support is to ensure that children are provided for after separation. This reflects the obligation that parents have to financially support their children, irrespective of the marital status of the parents. Child support is designed to promote the well-being and stability of children, allowing them to maintain a standard of living similar to what they would have experienced had the family remained intact.

While financial independence for custodial parents can be a consideration, and balancing financial outcomes can be relevant to some degree, the focus is fundamentally on the needs and welfare of the children. Child support is a mechanism established to guarantee that the children's basic needs—such as food, housing, education, and healthcare—are met. It aims to mitigate any negative impacts that the separation of parents may have on the children's lives by ensuring that both parents share the responsibility for their upbringing, contributing to their needs effectively.