Child support guidelines are set forth by the court, and must be followed by non-custodial parents. These guidelines differ depending upon the circumstances within each case, as well as the state the court is in. Typically, the court will determine how much a non-custodial parent will pay depending upon the amount of money he or she makes, how many children they have with the custodial parent and other financial circumstances that may affect the ability of the non-custodial parent to pay. The child support payments are due monthly, and if the non-custodial parent refuses to pay or does not pay the payments, he or she could face jail time or additional fines. Child support guidelines can be further explained by a knowledgeable child support attorney. Individuals involved in custody battles should consider hiring one in order to protect themselves and their chances of gaining custody of the child or children.