Child Support Laws
the state child support collection links below to learn about your state's child support collection laws and rules.
Learn how child support is determined, at what point does the obligation to pay support end, the guidelines for maintaining medical insurance and even how custody and visitation is determined. You'll also learn if your state allows garnishment action for unpaid child support.
Child Support Laws by State
Federal child support collections law
This law falls under Public Law 104-134 Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 Executive Order 13019 Supporting Families: Collecting Delinquent Child Support Obligations
The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 was enacted into law on April 26, 1996, to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to collect past-due child support by the administrative offset of Federal payments. Executive Order 13019 of September 1996, requires the Secretary of the Treasury to promptly develop and implement procedures necessary for the collection of past-due child support debts by administrative offset.
It is estimated that there are 10-15 million families in our country who are not getting the child support they deserve and that more than $30 billion in child support goes uncollected every year! Although the government has introduced tougher penalties for those who don't pay their child support, these penalties are useless if you can't find the absent parent!
Federal Child Support Administrative Offsets
Administrative offset simple means that the government can take either some or all of a person's federal payments such as tax returns to satisfy delinquent child support payments.
What they can Take |
Federal Laws |
Code of |
How much can they take! |
Federal tax refund |
42 U.S.C. 664 |
Child-support debts 26 U.S.C. 6402(c) |
100 % |
Federal salary |
5 U.S.C. 551415 |
5 CFR 550.110131 |
50%-65% |
Federal non-tax non-salary non-benefit |
31 U.S.C. 370131 |
CFR 285.1 |
100%, except as otherwise provided by law |
Federal and State child support collection laws are based on the premise that children have a right to the care and support of their parents. It is the responsibility of parents to provide this support: the Government can help parents who live apart from their children meet their responsibilities. However, the government's current child support system has failed to find and collect from, (and prosecute) effectively those who want to avoid supporting their children.