**Support**, in family law, means a financial obligation for a child, spouse or family. [[Cal. Fam. Code § 150|Family Code section 150]] includes past-due support and, for the children described in the statute, maintenance and education. This financial meaning is different from the emotional assistance provided by a support person. ## In California Family Law [[Child Support|Child support]] and [[Spousal Support|spousal support]] involve different legal questions. [Family Code sections 4053 and 4055](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=FAM&division=9.&title=&part=2.&chapter=2.&article=2.) set out the statewide guideline principles and formula, including both parents' financial responsibility. A parent's income and parenting time can matter; a simple label such as “custodial parent” does not alone determine the result. Temporary support during a case is addressed by [[Cal. Fam. Code § 3600|Family Code section 3600]]. Spousal support under the applicable long-term-support provisions requires consideration of the factors in [[Cal. Fam. Code § 4320|section 4320]], including need, ability to pay and the other statutory circumstances. Registered domestic partners have corresponding rights and obligations under [[Cal. Fam. Code § 297.5|section 297.5]]. The actual [[Support Order|support order]] identifies what must be paid and when. The term support should not be used to assume that every debt or financial provision in a family-law judgment has the same legal treatment. ## Example A judgment addresses monthly child support and a separate spousal-support award. Both concern financial support, but the rules governing their amount, duration and possible modification are not interchangeable. Each provision must be read under its own legal basis.