Two parents can often agree on a child support number between themselves — but in most states, that agreement isn't the end of the story. It generally still needs to go through the court to become a real, enforceable order.
Why courts still get involved
Child support is generally treated as the child's right, not just something the parents can privately contract away — most states require a judge to review and approve any agreement, specifically to confirm it's not against the child's interests, before it becomes an enforceable order.
Agreeing below the guideline amount
If parents agree to an amount lower than what the state's guideline formula would produce, most states require the agreement to include a specific written justification (sometimes called a "deviation") for why the lower amount still serves the child's best interests — a court generally won't just rubber-stamp a below-guideline number without one.
An informal handshake agreement carries real risk
An agreement that never goes through the court isn't enforceable the way an order is — it typically can't be enforced through wage garnishment, license suspension, or other state enforcement tools, and either parent can generally walk away from it at any time without consequence.
FAQ
Can we just agree to no child support at all?
This is difficult in most states — since child support is generally considered the child's right rather than the parents', a court usually needs a specific, justified reason to approve $0 in a case where the guideline formula would produce more.
Do we need a lawyer to formalize an agreement?
Not always required, but recommended for anything beyond the simplest cases — a family law attorney can help make sure an agreement will actually hold up and get approved.