Some 22 million children under the age of 21 rely upon child support from a non-custodial parent. A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau casts light on the plight of these children, the majority of whom are not getting the support they are due.

In 2009, just 41 percent of custodial parents received the full amount of child support owed to them. Only half of those custodial parents reported having a court order in place to receive child support from a non-custodial parent. About 9 percent of parents had an informal arrangement for payment, which could include health insurance and other types of assistance.

This is just the beginning of bad news, as the report shows that an increasing number of custodial parents - overwhelmingly mothers - are finding themselves living below poverty level. More than 28 percent of custodial parents with children are living in poverty, up from 23 percent in 2001.

It is your child's right to receive financial and emotional support from both of his or her parents. A family law attorney can help you secure the child support your child needs to thrive by helping you bring your case for support to family court.

Source: Mainstreet.com, "Parents Finding it Harder to Get Full Child Support Payments," by Kristin Colella, December 7, 2011.