Lenders will accept that on a mortgage application if you can produce a court order mandating the payments and proof they are actually being made.

Since you probably can't get the canceled checks, make copies of checks and bank statements that show child support and alimony payments being regularly deposited.

If one of your children is about to turn 18, child support will usually stop and the lender won't allow you to count it on your application. The ages of the children and when the support will stop are normally spelled out in the court order.

Click here for a complete rundown of what lenders consider valid income and a checklist of the paperwork they'll want to see.