A child support agreement is negotiated between parents rather than being determined by the court. Some couples use private mediation or collaboration with the assistance of attorneys to reach a satisfactory arrangement. Such an agreement must still be submitted to the family court for approval. The judge will determine whether or not it meets state guidelines. If so, it will be converted into a binding court order and can be enforced in the same way as any other child support award. A child support agreement may include health coverage and educational expenses as well as other special provisions. Most states calculate appropriate support levels based on a percentage of the non-custodial parent's net income. Parents with joint custody often adjust the amount of support to account for the fact that they are more equally sharing financial responsibility for the child.