ODJFS Online | Child Support

Job & Family Services - Office of Child Support

Office of Child Support

Office of Child Support - A Summary of Rights & Responsibilities of Child Support Participants

Residential Parents

Rights:

To have paternity established
To have support established
To have locate and enforcement services performed
To receive a support check within 2 working days of the CSEA receiving it
Have parts of the case file be kept confidential
Have medical support secured for the child(ren)
Have the support order reviewed every 36 months or sooner, if there are changes in employment or other changes
To have other states involved in the case respond in a timely manner
May request a state hearing
May appeal any paternity or support action

Responsibilities:

To provide complete and accurate information regarding yourself, the other parent, and the child(ren)
To complete an application for child support services, if not currently receiving public assistance benefits
Pay an application fee of $1.00, which may be absorbed by the CSEA.
To cooperate with paternity and support establishment if receiving cash assistance
Agree to assignment of benefits, if receiving a IV-A cash benefit
Have medical support established, if available
Must notify the CSEA of changes in demographic information
Must return any overpayments received that were paid in error
Must notify the CSEA of children approaching the age of majority (18)
Must notify the CSEA if the children become eligible for benefits or other income (such as Social Security)

Non-Residential Parents

Rights:

To have genetic testing performed
To have paternity established
To have parts of the case record remain confidential
To have the order modified every 36 months or sooner if there are situational changes
May request a state hearing
May appeal any paternity or support action

Responsibilities:

To pay for child support or, if not, receive a default notice which outlines enforcement actions and explains mistake of fact rights
To arrange for medical support for the child(ren)
Must have income withheld to pay for the support obligation
May notify the CSEA of children approaching the age of majority (18)
Must keep the CSEA apprised of changes in demographic information
Must notify the CSEA if the children become eligible for benefits or other income (such as Social Security)

Grandparents

Rights:

To have an administrative or court order issued by the county Child Support Enforcement Agency or the court requiring all of the minors' parents (grandparents of the child) to pay support for the child. Below is a summary of all of the conditions that must first be met:

Child must be born to parents who are unmarried and unemancipated minors, AND
A parent of one of the minors (a grandparent of the child) is providing support for the child, AND
The minors have either signed an acknowledgement of paternity affidavit or established paternity.

Responsibilities:

Employers

Income Withholding:

To withhold the correct amount of income for the length of the support obligation or face penalties
Must honor an income withholding order/notice from another state
May deduct an amount from the income of the person for performing the withholding
Must remit monies to the CSEA in a timely manner
Must keep employment information up-to-date

New Hire:

Participate in the New Hire program inclusive of the electronic data match requirements
Report new hires and rehires in a timely manner or face penalties
To have the information remain confidential

Medical insurance:

On notice from the CSEA, withhold monies for medical insurance for the children, if available
Failure to enroll the employee on request by the CSEA may prompt contempt charges by the court
Must inform the CSEA of any health insurance coverage changes, including termination of coverage

Financial Institutions

Rights:

Retain confidentiality over all account information
Multi-state financial institutions can choose to participate centrally with OCSE or individually in each state in which business is conducted.

Responsibilities:

Participate in the electronic Financial Institution Data Match program
Upon notice from the CSEA, freeze a non-residential parent's assets to pay support arrears
Permit seizing of those assets by the CSEA