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If parents are separated and the child lives with one parent, the other parent is required to financially support the child.
This is commonly referred to as “child support.”
The goal of child support is to ensure that both parents contribute financially to the well-being of their child, even if they are not living together.
Contrary to popular belief, child support has nothing to do with how good of a parent one is, how often they see their child, etc.
It is set entirely by law and is a mathematical formula.
In broad terms, child support is calculated by adding together both parents’ income.
Childcare and health insurance expenses are also included.
You use a formula set out in the law, as well as the Schedule of Basic Child Support Obligations, to calculate the monthly amount of child support owed.
(This schedule applies to cases filed after May 1, 2022. The older schedule can be found here.)
The best way to collect child support is to have it taken directly out of the other parent’s paycheck, through an Income Withholding Order.
You may also be able to seize a tax refund or other assets.
Once a court issues a child support order, for every month that child support is not paid, the state will record an “arrearage.” This amount will continue to grow as long as child support is not paid.
– If you pay the other parent directly, the state will have no record of it.
– You will collect an “arrearage” (a statement that you are behind on child support) UNLESS you pay through the state system.
You can try to modify the order if either parent’s income changes.
You can also modify it if childcare or health insurance expenses change.
