Child Support Enforcement FAQs

• Q: When May Maintenance And Support Be Awarded By A Court?
  A: Depending on state law, a court may award maintenance to either spouse.   Maintenance refers to money payable or property transferable by one … More
• Q: How Does A Parent Having Custody Obtain Child Support From The Other Parent?
  A: Child support payments can be reached by agreement between the parents or by application to court and obtaining a court order.
• Q: Can an order for maintenance or support be changed or varied?
  A: A court may vary an order or an interim order for maintenance or support in the following situations: there has been a significant change in the condition, means, … More
• Q: Can the amount of support payments be changed?
  A: Either party to a support payment agreement or a court­-ordered support application can apply to the court at any time to vary the amount of support payable ­ … More
• Q: What Is Child Support, And How Is Child Support Determined?
  A: Child support is a periodic payment made to a custodial parent from a non­custodial parent to help compensate a child's living expenses, i.e. food, clothes, etc., … More
• Q: What Factors Are Used To Calculate Child Support Payments? Can The Amount Of The Payment Change Over Time?
  A: Under the Child Support Enforcement Act of 1984, child support payments are based upon each parent's current income.  This includes a number of elements … More
• Q: Is A Father Who Never Married The Mother Still Required To Pay Child Support? What If The Father Is Not Allowed To See The Child?
  A: Regardless of marital status, an ‘assumed father' is any biological father of a child for whom paternity has been established by either the admission of the … More
• Q: What Happens To A Father Who Refuses To Pay Court Ordered Child Support?
  A: Under the Child Support Enforcement Act of 1984, it is against the law for any father, presumed or assumed, to not pay court ordered child support to the custodial … More
• Q: How Is Child Support Ordered And What Exactly Is It?
  A: Child support is a court ordered monthly payment by one parent (often the non-custodial parent) to the other parent for the support of their common child. Federal law … More
• Q: My Ex Is Not Making Child Support Payments – What Can I Do?
  A: You can take your ex back to court.  Once there, the judge has many tools available for your use.  For example, you could have the judge issue a wage … More