N.Y. Family Court Act § 545: Order of support by parents

§ 545. Order of support by parents. 1. In a proceeding in which the

court has made an order of filiation, the court shall direct the parent

or parents possessed of sufficient means or able to earn such means to

pay weekly or at other fixed periods a fair and reasonable sum according

to their respective means as the court may determine and apportion for

such child's support and education, until the child is twenty-one. The

order shall be effective as of the earlier of the date of the

application for an order of filiation, or, if the children for whom

support is sought are in receipt of public assistance, the date for

which their eligibility for public assistance was effective. Any

retroactive amount of child support shall be support arrears/past-due

support and shall be paid in one sum or periodic sums as the court shall

direct, taking into account any amount of temporary support which has

been paid. In addition, such retroactive child support shall be

enforceable in any manner provided by law including, but not limited to,

an execution for support enforcement pursuant to subdivision (b) of

section fifty-two hundred forty-one of the civil practice law and rules.

The court shall direct such parent to make his or her residence known at

all times should he or she move from the address last known to the court

by reporting such change to the support collection unit designated by

the appropriate social services district. The order shall contain the

social security numbers of the named parents. The order may also direct

each parent to pay an amount as the court may determine and apportion

for the support of the child prior to the making of the order of

filiation, and may direct each parent to pay an amount as the court may

determine and apportion for the funeral expenses if the child has died.

The necessary expenses incurred by or for the mother in connection with

her confinement and recovery and such expenses in connection with the

pregnancy of the mother shall be deemed cash medical support, and the

court shall determine the obligation of either or both parents to

contribute to the cost thereof pursuant to subparagraph five of

paragraph (c) of subdivision one of section four hundred thirteen of

this act. In addition, the court shall make provisions for health

insurance benefits in accordance with the requirements of section four

hundred sixteen of this act.

2. The court, in its discretion, taking into consideration the means

of the father and his ability to pay and the needs of the child, may

direct the payment of a reasonable sum or periodic sums to the mother as

reimbursement for the needs of the child accruing from the date of the

birth of the child to the date of the application for an order of

filiation.