In April 1993 the Child Support Agency created under the Child Support Act 1991 became operational. The Act radically affects the support and maintenance of ""qualifying children"" from all financial backgrounds, and is a potential minefield for the family lawyer.;""Child Support"" explains the Agency's remit, powers, and methods so that practitioners can correctly assess a client's claim first time around. It offers a totally practical approach to the new formula, its mechanics and application.;The book also explains the Agency structure for a complete picture of all parties involved and of their responsibilities. To complete the coverage, full references are made to the phasing in of transitional provisions, jurisdictional changes and new rules of Court so far published and those in draft.;It explains every step in the claiming process, including: the Agency's powers to obtain information from different sources; how the Agency calculates the proportion of child support to be paid by an absent parent. It explains each element of the formula and provides worked examples for Schedule 1 of the Act and the Assessment and special Cases Regulations. It includes expected client questions with suggested answers.