Enforcing Child Support

Dad About To Hug His Son

The Child Support agency handles enforcing child support payments. The non-custodial parent must make child support payments as ordered by the court. When this does not happen, the Child Support agency begins enforcement. Payments must be at least 30 days delinquent before court action can be initiated.

Other methods used to collect child support payments are:

  • Administrative income withholding
  • Intercepting tax refunds
  • Revocation of driver’s licenses or business or professional licenses
  • Paternity testing
  • Filing a formal complaint upon the alleged father, initiating court action. A hearing is held and, based on the findings, the court enters an order for paternity.

Establishing Paternity

Paternity is determining the legal father of a child.

This can happen in one of three ways:

  • Obtaining an affidavit of parentage at the time of birth
  • Paternity testing
  • Filing a formal complaint upon the alleged father, initiating court action. A hearing is held and, based on the findings, the court enters an order for paternity.

Modification of Order

Either party may request a modification of a child support order. Call or visit the Department of Human Services to request a modification.

Orders are eligible for modification based on the following:

  • ‍The current order is more than three years old.
  • A significant change has occurred in circumstances since the entry of the last order.