# Collecting payment for a whole family

> Academium SMS Help › Student Accounting
> For: School Owner, School Admin, Accountant
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-collecting-for-a-family
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

When a parent pays for several children at once, take it as **one payment** from the **family invoice**.

## Opening the family invoice

- From **Parents → Parents List**, choose **Family invoice** on the family's row; or
- From **Student Accounting → Invoices / Fees Payment**, switch the list to **By Family**.

## The family invoice

It brings together every linked child's fees. You can **focus on one child** to see only theirs.

## Taking the payment

1. Choose the fees the payment covers, across any of the children.
2. Enter the amount, payment method, account and remarks.
3. Save.

The payment is recorded as **one transaction**, but each child's share goes against **their own fees**. The family's payment history shows each transaction with every child's share.

## Paying from the family wallet

Choose **family wallet** as the payment method to pay from the family's balance. Academium shows the balance and will not take more than the family has. See [Family wallet](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-family-wallet.md).

## Common issues

**A child is missing from the family invoice.** They are not linked to this parent. Check the child's guardian on their profile. See [Parents and guardians](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-parents-and-guardians.md).

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