The Amount of Child Support Depends on Many
Factors
Child support is based mainly on the child's needs
and the parents' ability to pay.
Duration of Child Support
 Child
support is paid until the child reaches age 18 or graduates
from high school but not beyond 19 years and six months
of age, whichever occurs later.
Changing Child Support Orders
Child support is modifiable if a parent shows that
a change in circumstances warrants a modification.
Payment of Child Support
Child support is paid through the Friend of the Court,
unless the recipient requests direct payment. It is possible
to have direct deposit of child support payments.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
Nonpayment of court-ordered support may lead to a contempt
of court citation, resulting in a jail term. It
doesn't pay to wait to enforce child support: the statute
of limitations runs out after 10 years.
Health Insurance for Minor Children
A 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, as though that parent were the one providing
the insurance. |
