Alimony and Child Support are both issues that are handled in a court of law. These are payments that individuals are often required by law to make, and they can face serious consequences if they do not make the payments. Alimony payments are payments made from one spouse to the other, in order to help support them for one reason or another. These might be ordered if one spouse supported the other while he or she attended college and obtained a degree, or if one spouse stayed at home and took care of the house and family for a number of years. Child support payments will typically be required from the non-custodial parent to help support the children he or she has with the custodial parent. The money can be used for financial needs such as shelter, utilities, school supplies, medical care, or anything else needed by the child. Anyone who must go to court to deal with these issues is advised to hire an attorney to provide them with representation as well as important information. An attorney can also advise an individual of his or her rights and options under the law.