Joint child support is an arrangement in which parents who have joint custody of their children pay equal amounts of child support to ensure that their children have everything they need. In some cases, individuals who have joint custody agree themselves on joint child support based on what is best for them and what their child needs. However, some parents need a judge to help them in order to come to an agreement on joint child support, and therefore, they take their case to court. The judge will look over their finances, what expenses they have, whether either of them is paying court-ordered child support payments already and how many children are involved in the case. The judge will then determine the amount of joint child support that each must pay so that their children are covered financially. The judge may or may not make provisions for medical care. Individuals who must attend child support court should consider hiring a child support attorney to provide them with representation as well as valuable information regarding their rights and options under the law.