Collecting Back Child Support
Do you have questions about collecting back child support? There are various methods for collecting past due child support. The first place that many people start is with their state's Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED). Federal law requires that the services of the CSED in each state be made available to anyone who requests them. You can find out more about the process in the "Handbook on Child Support Enforcement" from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement. The state attorney's office can also help enforce court-ordered child support by bringing suit against the obligated parent. Private attorneys may be used to help collect past due amounts by bringing contempt of court charges and serving wage assignment orders. There are also private agencies that offer services for collecting back child support. If you do decide to use a private child support collection agency, read all the paperwork very carefully before signing the collection contract. Below you can find answers to the most common questions asked about collecting back child support:
Back Child SupportCan his tax refund be seized for collecting back child support? Mandy's Question: I am owed back support on my children from a previous relationship, but have never received a dime from their fathers tax return. Is there paper work I should fill out or do I call IRS? Brette's Answer: If your child support is being collected through your state child support collection agency, get in touch with them for help in collecting back child support. If it is not, you can petition the court to have it collected in this way. They are responsible for notifying the IRS. Where does the money go if a tax refund was seized for support? Chris's Question: Where and who gets any back child support. I was 8000 behind and they have taken my tax refund for the last two years, but my ex says he hasn't received it. Brette's Answer: You need to get in touch with your state child support enforcement agency. They will have records. If your tax refund was taken, it should be applied to your account. If you don't want that to happen again, you need to adjust the amount you're having taken out of your pay. »Return to top Can a bank account be seized to pay delinquent child support? Rachel's Question: My husband is paying support for 2 children from a previous relationship. He recently became unemployed and I am the only one working to support all of us. I have heard that if we don't pay his child support, the IRS could wipe out our joint bank account to keep paying his arrears. Is this true? Can we get his child support obligation reduced based on his unemployment compensation? Brette's Answer: He should file for a modification based on the change in employment. The IRS would not take your bank account, but the court could certainly order that those assets be seized. If he fails to pay child support his tax refund can be taken - that's where the IRS comes into play. Can he go to jail for being in arrears for so long? Kay's Question: I have been divorced for 5yrs and have not been receiving child support. I finally told my ex that he needs to start paying and he gave me half of the ordered support. Then said he is taking me back to court because the amount he has to pay is unfair. If we do go to court, will he end up going to jail for contempt of court for not paying child support and being in arrears for so long. Brette's Answer: It is unlikely he would go to jail. That happens in rare cases after many failed attempts at collecting back child support. He can ask for a modification in the amount, but unless something has changed since the order was entered, he won't get it. Will he still be responsible for back child support after we turn 18? Rachel's Question: My father owes us nearly $100,000 in back child support. My brother turns 18 in a couple of months and I will in a couple of years. Will my father still be responsible for the money he owes us even after we turn 18? Brette's Answer: Your father owes the money to your mother, not to you, and she is the only one who has the right to collect it. He is still responsible for back child support even if you are 18. Can the child forgive any back child support that is owed? Jasmine's Question: If a child becomes emancipated (turns 18) and child support is owed in that child's case, is that child able to forgive all or some of the back child support that collected? Brette's Answer: No. The child has no legal standing in that lawsuit and is not a party to it. Child support is owed by one parent to another. »Return to top Is the child entitled to the back child support that is owed? Travis' Question: I just turned 18 and my mom has kicked me out of the house. The courts have ordered my dad to pay the back owed child support. Am I entitled to any of it since I'm not living with my mom anymore? Brette's Answer: Sorry, no. Only the parent can collect child support. Retroactive child support is for the past - when you were living at home and being supported by your parents. Will my children get the back child support if I die? Alison's Question: My ex husband owes child support arrears in the amount of 111,000.00 Right now his wages are being garnished each month. If something happens to me, are my adult children entitled to the money he owes me and how do I make sure they would get it? Brette's Answer: The money would be owed to your estate and the administrator or executor of that estate could pursue collection. Is back child support taxable? Wilma's Question: My ex vowed he would never pay a dime of child support and he never did for over 30 years. I sued his estate after his death and received a lump sum distribution from his estate for the back child support. Is this back child support taxable as income? Brette's Answer: No. Child support is not taxable income. Will a retroactive modification of child support affect the back support owed? Lisa's Question: My children's father is requesting a retroactive modification. In Indiana it goes back to the date he filed the petition. If the judge rules in favor of him, how can they take that money from the children? He currently owes me 8K in back support. Brette's Answer: You wouldn't pay it back. It should be deducted from what he owes. You can file for violation and enforcement for the arrears. Will he still owe back child support if he gets custody? Erin's Question: Does a father still have to pay back child support if he ends up getting custody? If he does get custody, how will that affect the child support order? Brette's Answer: He owes the back child support no matter what. If he gets custody, he can get the current order changed so he is owed support. » Return to top of Collecting Back Child Support Copyright WomansDivorce.com. All rights reserved.
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