Victoria Legal Aid Handbook for Lawyers

Child support help

The application form asks you to disclose the details of any child support, or maintenance, that you or your partner pay for the support of a child.

General principles

The payments do not need to be made pursuant to a court order or administrative assessment to be included in this item.

The expression ‘child’ can also include specific orders for ‘over-18’ maintenance.

Important: Do not ‘double count’ a child as a dependant and one for which you’re paying maintenance/child support. A child is treated as a dependant if they live with you, but treated as a person for whom you pay maintenance/child support if the child is living with another person.

If the details are entered in both places, inaccurate means test details may be calculated by ATLAS.

Further information

See the VLA Handbook for lawyers for further information about child support payments.

Reviewed 24 January 2022