What does child support refer to?

Child support refers to the financial support that one parent provides to the other for the care and upbringing of their child. This typically covers a wide range of expenses associated with raising a child, including but not limited to necessities such as food, clothing, education, healthcare, and other related costs. The purpose of child support is to ensure that the child's needs are met, regardless of the parents' living arrangements or relationships.

The other options do not align with the definition of child support. Payments for legal fees pertain to expenses incurred during legal proceedings, often related to custody or divorce but are not considered child support. Alimony refers to financial support provided from one spouse to another after separation or divorce, focusing on the needs of the ex-spouse rather than the child. Criminal restitution involves payments made by a convicted offender to the victim of their crime, which is entirely unrelated to child-rearing responsibilities.