Child Support Enforcement
Certain government agencies are responsible for enforcing child support judgments. On the federal level, the federal child support enforcement program helps to locate parents and work with other federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration. Each state's child support enforcement agency serves the following functions:
A government agency can enforce current child support orders by serving as the collection center for child support payments.
The government agency may use several child support collection methods to enforce a current child support order. The child support payments are garnished from a non-custodial parents pay in order to satisfy current child support orders.
A government agency may assist with child support payment enforcement by providing summons' service to the non-custodial parent after an initial hearing date is set or after a custodial parent requests a child support modification.
A defense to not paying child support occurs when a father does not believe he's the father of a child. A government agency can enforce child support judgments by establishing the paternity of a child. A government agency can order DNA testing to establish paternity. Once paternity is established, the father's name may be included in a state registry. The registry may be used if a parent is considering adoption or any other legal issues that would involve a father.
It may be difficult to collect child support payments if a custodial parent is unable to locate a non-custodial parent, the child support obligor. A government agency may assist a custodial parent in locating a child support obligor who has not kept their child support payments current. A custodial parent who may require these services should give the government agency as much information about the obligor as possible to help locate him/her. Examples of important information may be a social security number, previous address, full name, etc.
For more information about the role of a government agency in enforcing child support orders, refer to your specific state's government agency. You may also visit additional the child support guidelines of your particular state.
Enforcing Child Support Orders by Collecting Child Support Payments
A government agency can enforce current child support orders by serving as the collection center for child support payments.
The government agency may use several child support collection methods to enforce a current child support order. The child support payments are garnished from a non-custodial parents pay in order to satisfy current child support orders.
Enforcing Child Support Orders by Serving a Summons
A government agency may assist with child support payment enforcement by providing summons' service to the non-custodial parent after an initial hearing date is set or after a custodial parent requests a child support modification.
Enforcing Child Support Payments by Establishing Paternity
A defense to not paying child support occurs when a father does not believe he's the father of a child. A government agency can enforce child support judgments by establishing the paternity of a child. A government agency can order DNA testing to establish paternity. Once paternity is established, the father's name may be included in a state registry. The registry may be used if a parent is considering adoption or any other legal issues that would involve a father.
Enforcing Child Support Payments by Locating the Non-Custodial Parent
It may be difficult to collect child support payments if a custodial parent is unable to locate a non-custodial parent, the child support obligor. A government agency may assist a custodial parent in locating a child support obligor who has not kept their child support payments current. A custodial parent who may require these services should give the government agency as much information about the obligor as possible to help locate him/her. Examples of important information may be a social security number, previous address, full name, etc.
For more information about the role of a government agency in enforcing child support orders, refer to your specific state's government agency. You may also visit additional the child support guidelines of your particular state.
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