Whether you are a custodial or non-custodial parent, you may find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being ordered to pay child support. Child support is an ongoing payment that you make to a non-custodial parent for the financial benefit of your child. It is paid after a divorce or a similar relationship, and it is meant to help pay for the financial needs of the child.
Regardless of the divorce or separation process, non-custodial parents are required to pay child support. This helps provide for the basic living expenses for their children, including food, shelter and clothing. Child support can also be used for medical expenses, future private school costs, or vacation expenses.
A study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family showed that non-custodial parents who pay child support are more involved in their child’s life and have better relationships. In addition, non-custodial parents who pay their child support in full and on time have better visitation arrangements.
Although there are many different ways non-custodial parents pay child support, the most common is to have it directly taken from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck. This prevents the non-custodial parent from defaulting on his financial obligations.
Having a specialized customer service unit in your state is not required for you to take advantage of the Federal IV-D program. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the Federal IV-D program does not require your state to provide the same services to out-of-state child support recipients as it does to in-state residents. Consider working with a highly-skilled child support attorney serving San Diego.
One of the ways your state can collect child support is through direct income withholding actions. A direct income withholding order can be sent to your employer in another state, directing him or her to withhold funds. However, it is important to note that your state must meet the requirements in section 611 of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) before you can implement such a program.
Whether your payment is intercepted from a non-custodial parent’s tax refund, unemployment insurance benefits, or from a financial institution, you can expect your funds to be disbursed within two business days of receiving the payment. However, it is important to make sure you have the correct payment mailing address on the interstate transmittal.
The federal Payment Distribution rules will determine how payments are applied and distributed. However, most interstate disbursements are transmitted through an electronic funds transfer. This is a safer way to receive child support payments than a paper check.
Most of the time, you will be able to receive your payment through the Clearinghouse. You can also call the State’s Child Support Hotline, also known as the Voice Response System, to find out what to expect. If you receive a payment that is not expected, contact your local child support office right away.
Whether you are a custodial parent, guardian or a noncustodial parent, you may need legal assistance to enforce an existing child support order. Your local child support agency may help you with this. They can also help you find the noncustodial parent.
In some cases, you may be able to modify an existing child support order without going to court. You can do it yourself or you can hire an attorney to do it for you. You can also hire the services of a Child Support Program. These programs help you establish paternity, enforcing child support orders, and obtaining health insurance for your children.
Child support obligations can be enforced by administrative action or by a judicial proceeding. Administrative actions include seizure of bank accounts, licenses and passports, and the offsetting of federal and state payments. A judicial proceeding involves a hearing in family court. In the event of an arrearage, the family court can order jail sentences or money judgments. The court may also order the noncustodial parent into a work program.
