§ 10-204. Order to pay child support

   (a) Authority of court. -- Before trial and with the written consent of the accused individual, or on conviction of the individual under § 10-203 of this subtitle, instead of or in addition to imposing a penalty under § 10-203 of this subtitle, the court may:

   (1) order the individual to pay child support periodically in a certain amount for 3 years, or, if there is an agreement with respect to support of the child, order the individual to make payments as provided in the agreement; and

   (2) place the individual on probation on the individual's entering into a recognizance.

(b) Determination of amount. -- In passing the order, the court shall consider the financial circumstances of the accused individual.

(c) Recipient. -- The accused individual shall make the payments:

   (1) to the person who has custody of the minor child, through the appropriate support enforcement agency; or

   (2) if there is an agreement with respect to support of the child, to the recipient designated in the agreement.

(d) Modification. -- The court may modify the order as circumstances require.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 88; 1984, ch. 296, § 2.