Handbook on Child Support Enforcement
The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program is a Federal/State/local
partnership to collect child support: we want to send the strongest
possible message that parents cannot walk away from their children. Our
goals are to ensure that children have the financial support of both their
parents, to foster responsible behavior towards children, and to reduce
welfare costs.
The CSE Program was established in 1975 as Title IV-D of the Social
Security Act. It functions in all States and territories, through the
State/county Social Services Department, Attorney General's Office or
Department of Revenue. Most States work with prosecuting attorneys, other
law enforcement agencies, and officials of family or domestic relations
courts to carry out the program at the local level.
State Child Support Programs locate noncustodial parents, establish
paternity, establish and enforce support orders, and collect child support
payments. While programs vary from State to State, their services are
available to all parents who need them.
The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement is part of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It helps States develop, manage,
and operate their programs effectively and according to Federal law. The
Office pays the major share of State program operating costs, provides
policy guidance and technical help to enforcement agencies, conducts
audits and educational programs, supports research, and shares ideas for
program improvement.
We believe that child support enforcement provides hope as well as
support to America's children. We dedicate this Handbook to the
millions of parents who put their children first by responsibly providing
for their emotional and financial support.
FOREWORD
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 (PRWORA) included provisions to ensure that more children have
paternity and child support orders established and receive financial
support to cover their basic needs. The new cash assistance program,
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), that has replaced Aid to
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), is time limited. Child support
provisions of the new law are designed to ensure that those noncustodial
parents who have not done so will take a fair share of the responsibility
for the financial support of children.
• A National new hire reporting system. The law establishes
a National Directory of "New Hires" which requires employers to
report all newly hired employees for inclusion in State and National
Directories of New Hires. This provision will speed direct withholding of
child support from wages as well as help track obligated parents across
State lines. (Effective 10/1/97)
• Streamlined paternity establishment. The law makes it easier to
establish legal paternity for children born to unmarried parents. It
expands the use of administrative (rather than judicial) procedures and
the voluntary in-hospital paternity establishment program, and requires
standardized acknowledgement forms. (Effective 10/1/96)
• Uniform interstate child support laws. The law provides for
uniform rules, procedures, and forms for interstate cases. (Effective
1/1/98)
• Computerized state-wide collections. States are required to
establish centralized collection and disbursement units. (Effective
10/1/98)
• Enhanced techniques/tough new penalties. Under PRWORA States can
implement enhanced child support enforcement techniques. The law expands
wage withholding, and allows states to require obligated parents to work.
The law also enables States to revoke drivers, professional, recreational
and occupational licenses of parents who owe delinquent child support, and
allows States to seize assets.
• Access and visitation programs. In an effort to support
noncustodial parents' involvement in their children's lives, the law
includes grants to states to develop programs that support children's
visitation with and access to their noncustodial parents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION
How to apply for child support enforcement services....what they
cost
II. FINDING THE NONCUSTODIAL PARENT: LOCATION
The initial
search...Federal and State Parent Locator Services
III. ESTABLISHING FATHERHOOD: PATERNITY
Benefits...necessary evidence...voluntary acknowledgment
IV. ESTABLISHING THE SUPPORT ORDER: OBLIGATION
Determining the amount...changing the amount
V. ENFORCING THE SUPPORT ORDER: ENFORCEMENT
Techniques that work
VI. WORKING ACROSS STATE LINES: INTERSTATE
COOPERATION
How to collect payments in
another State...tracking your case
VII. CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT FOR NATIVE
AMERICAN CHILDREN
VIII. CONCLUSION
APPENDIX
Glossary of Child Support Enforcement
Terms
State Child Support
Enforcement Offices
Regional
Offices of the Office of Child Support Enforcement
Child Support Enforcement
Records
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Handbook on Child Support Enforcement: Collect child support
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