Child support Missouri laws determine that both parents are responsible for the child. The law takes into account the standard of living that the child would have received if the parents were together, the income of both parents, child care expenses related to school or work, the child's educational needs, the financial needs and resources of the child and the alike. An income withholding will be initiated on the same date as the child support order unless the courts recognize that there is no need for the income withholding order or the two parties have agreed on other arrangements. Child support must be paid until: the child dies, marries, becomes self-supporting and has been released from parental control, until the age of 21 or 22 if the child continues with a secondary education or if the child enters active duty in the military. When determining the child support, the courts will take the best interest of the child into consideration. The state also offers a child support enforcement agency that helps with establishment of child support orders and collection of child support, not to mention several other aspects pertaining to child support. This is a free service to the consumer.