What is the purpose of a "child support order"?

The purpose of a "child support order" is fundamentally to ensure that a parent is legally mandated to provide ongoing financial support for their child. This financial support typically involves regular payments that help cover essential expenses such as food, housing, healthcare, education, and other necessities. Child support orders are intended to protect the welfare of the child by ensuring that they receive adequate financial resources from both parents, especially in situations where the parents are divorced or separated.

In the context of the other options, granting custody of a child and terminating parental rights are legal determinations related to the guardianship and rights of parents, but they do not relate to financial provisions. Similarly, allowing a child to be adopted involves transferring legal custody and parental rights, which is a separate matter from providing financial support. Therefore, the primary focus of a child support order is to establish a financial obligation rather than to address custody or adoption matters.