In family law and public policy, child support (or child maintenance) is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship. Child maintenance is paid directly or indirectly by an obligor to an obligee for the care and support of children of a relationship that has been terminated, or in some cases never existed. Often the obligor is a non-custodial parent. The obligee is typically a custodial parent, a caregiver, a guardian, or the state.

Kindesunterhalt ist der Unterhalt, den Erziehungsberechtigte gegenüber ihren Kindern leisten.

L'obligation alimentaire, qui peut prendre la forme d'un versement de pension alimentaire, est l'obligation légale de fournir à un membre de sa famille dans le besoin l'aide matérielle indispensable pour vivre.

Elatusapu on maksusuoritus, jolla vanhempi kattaa lapsen lakisääteisen elatusvelvollisuutensa tai osan siitä.