Child Support

The amount of child support depends on many factors, but is primarily based on the needs of the children and their parents’ ability to pay.

• Child support must be paid until the child reaches age 18 or graduates from high school, but not beyond 19 years and six months of age, whichever is later.
• Child support is modifiable if a parent shows that a change in circumstances warrants a modification.
• Child support is paid through the Friend of the Court, unless the recipient requests child support payments to be paid directly to him/her.
• Nonpayment of court-ordered support may lead to a contempt of court citation, resulting in a jail term. Don’t wait to enforce child support: the statute of limitations runs out after 10 years.

Health Insurance for Minor Children
Federal law requires parents to provide health insurance coverage for children whenever it is available to the parents under either parent’s coverage. This applies to custodial and noncustodial parents. When one parent provides health insurance but the other parent actually pays the medical bills, a Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO) is available to permit the paying parent to deal directly with the insurance company.