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This paper focuses on the factors which influence, in France, the behaviour of the judges who fix child support orders. The theoretical framework of arbitration models is adapted to build a judge’s utility function. Then our theoretical model is estimated with some original experimental data. Using multilevel models, we show that some judge’s characteristics (gender, matrimonial status and experience as judge) influence the child support order, but that impact remains low. Classification JEL  : J52, K49, J12