Less than 50 years ago, it was considered taboo to have a child out of wedlock. Now, thousands of parents find themselves having children out of wedlock, becoming single parents. Another reason there are more single parents now than in the past is because the divorce rate in the United States is hovering near 43% according to the Americans for Divorce Reform. For married couples that have children, those children will then be raised in a single parent home. There are many questions newly single parents have and the biggest series of questions are about child support and child support enforcement.
What is Child Support
Child support is an amount of money that the non-custodial parent is required to pay, at certain times of the month, to help care for the child. This money is used by the custodial parent to help maintain the child’s up keeping. Many parents use this money to help pay for clothing expenses, child care or educational expenses or other things the child may need. For single parents, there are a couple different ways to get child support for their child.
How to Get Started
Many single parents think that they will absolutely need an attorney to begin a child support case. That is one way to do it, but it isn’t always the easiest or the most affordable thing to do. Single parents can start the process by going to their local child support enforcement office and request help. The child support enforcement officers will contact the other party and the process will begin with that contact and any paper work that needs to be filed will be filed. Some single parents also decide to get the necessary forms and represent themselves.
After the paper work has been filed, single parents can expect to establish paternity or maternity. Before anyone can be ordered to pay child support, it has to be found that they are the biological parent of the child(ren). Establishing maternity is normally a lot easier than paternity because the woman that is listed on the child’s birth certificate is considered the biological mother. If there is no name listed for the father on the birth certificate, or no mother’s name, the alleged father’s or mother’s information will have to be submitted to the child support enforcement office as well as any contact information that is available. Once there has been contact made, normally there is a DNA test given to establish the biological relationship. Once the paternity test results show a biological relationship, the courts can declare paternity or maternity. For those children that have both parents’ signatures on the birth certificate, the court system can use that as a basis to rule who is responsible for the child.
The Child Support Order
Many divorced single parents find their child support order has been added into their divorce decree. Because the child support order has been worked out, there sometimes aren’t a lot of extra steps to be taken. The most important part of getting child support started is establishing the initial child support order.
Once parentage has been determined, a child support order is worked out. Single parents or the custodial parents should be prepared to provide the following information: a detailed list of expenses for the child, proof of their income for at least the last six months and the previous year’s tax returns. The judge will use what’s called Child Support Guidelines to determine the exact amount the non-custodial parent will be paying in child support. The total is based upon the total gross income of both parents. The child’s expenses are also taken into consideration. Once the order is given and if there are no disagreements with the order, the order will stand and those are the payments that are expected of the non-custodial parent.
Child Support Collection
The easiest way for parents to pay their ordered child support is through payroll deductions. Once an employer receives notice of the child support order, they legally have to withhold the amount from their employees’ pay check.
If single parents are finding their child support payments are not being paid, they can file a contempt petition against the other parent. Single parents also find they can go to independent agencies to get help in collecting back child support payments. Normally, if the child support is unpaid or if there is back child support owed, states will take the Federal and State Income tax returns, put liens on property as well as sell the property, using the proceeds going to satisfy the delinquent amount of child support.
For some people, being a single parent is a large adjustment to make. There are many things to consider and do to ensure the child is in the best home possible. With all the financial concerns that come with being a single parent, child support is one way to offset the costs. The additional monies can be used to pay for additional things the child may need or to help pay for the expenses that the custodial parent encounters. Although the process can be long and drawn out, especially with an uncooperative parent, it is well worth it because the child will benefit in the long run.
Child support is an amount of money that the non-custodial parent is required to pay, at certain times of the month, to help care for the child. This money is used by the custodial parent to help maintain the child’s up keeping. Many parents use this money to help pay for clothing expenses, child care or educational expenses or other things the child may need. For single parents, there are a couple different ways to get child support for their child.
How to Get Started
Many single parents think that they will absolutely need an attorney to begin a child support case. That is one way to do it, but it isn’t always the easiest or the most affordable thing to do. Single parents can start the process by going to their local child support enforcement office and request help. The child support enforcement officers will contact the other party and the process will begin with that contact and any paper work that needs to be filed will be filed. Some single parents also decide to get the necessary forms and represent themselves.
After the paper work has been filed, single parents can expect to establish paternity or maternity. Before anyone can be ordered to pay child support, it has to be found that they are the biological parent of the child(ren). Establishing maternity is normally a lot easier than paternity because the woman that is listed on the child’s birth certificate is considered the biological mother. If there is no name listed for the father on the birth certificate, or no mother’s name, the alleged father’s or mother’s information will have to be submitted to the child support enforcement office as well as any contact information that is available. Once there has been contact made, normally there is a DNA test given to establish the biological relationship. Once the paternity test results show a biological relationship, the courts can declare paternity or maternity. For those children that have both parents’ signatures on the birth certificate, the court system can use that as a basis to rule who is responsible for the child.
The Child Support Order
Many divorced single parents find their child support order has been added into their divorce decree. Because the child support order has been worked out, there sometimes aren’t a lot of extra steps to be taken. The most important part of getting child support started is establishing the initial child support order.
Once parentage has been determined, a child support order is worked out. Single parents or the custodial parents should be prepared to provide the following information: a detailed list of expenses for the child, proof of their income for at least the last six months and the previous year’s tax returns. The judge will use what’s called Child Support Guidelines to determine the exact amount the non-custodial parent will be paying in child support. The total is based upon the total gross income of both parents. The child’s expenses are also taken into consideration. Once the order is given and if there are no disagreements with the order, the order will stand and those are the payments that are expected of the non-custodial parent.
Child Support Collection
The easiest way for parents to pay their ordered child support is through payroll deductions. Once an employer receives notice of the child support order, they legally have to withhold the amount from their employees’ pay check.
If single parents are finding their child support payments are not being paid, they can file a contempt petition against the other parent. Single parents also find they can go to independent agencies to get help in collecting back child support payments. Normally, if the child support is unpaid or if there is back child support owed, states will take the Federal and State Income tax returns, put liens on property as well as sell the property, using the proceeds going to satisfy the delinquent amount of child support.
For some people, being a single parent is a large adjustment to make. There are many things to consider and do to ensure the child is in the best home possible. With all the financial concerns that come with being a single parent, child support is one way to offset the costs. The additional monies can be used to pay for additional things the child may need or to help pay for the expenses that the custodial parent encounters. Although the process can be long and drawn out, especially with an uncooperative parent, it is well worth it because the child will benefit in the long run.