State law regarding divorce and separation for parents is focused on ensuring children’s needs are met and promoting their best interests. This focus is evident in the process of child support payments in Fairfield.
The preferred procedure involves documented exchanges between the parents and imposes automatic payroll deductions when appropriate. If you are negotiating a child support arrangement, speak with an experienced child support attorney at Dolan Divorce Lawyers, who can explain the procedure in detail.
The Connecticut Child Support Payment Resource Center (CSPRC) operates within the Department of Social Services and manages the collection and distribution of court-ordered child support payments where there is an income-withholding order in place or a support case handled by the Attorney General’s office. The paying parent sends support to the CSPRC, which then deposits the funds directly into the recipient’s bank account or issues a prepaid Visa card.
Child support is handled by CSPRC in cases where there are challenges with the paying parent meeting their obligation. Child support cases in family court are generally not handled by the CSPRC unless an income withholding order is garnished, and instead, parents have to coordinate directly with each other. For cases handled by CSPRC, it ensures the state has an accurate record of when payments were made and distributed to recipients. This record eliminates false or mistaken accusations of missed payments.
Connecticut General Statutes §52-362(b) describes how family court and magistrate judges must handle initial child support orders and modifications. In most cases, a judge will issue an income withholding order that is contingent on nonpayment, or the parents will agree to make the order contingent, thereby effective only if payments are behind more than 30 days. Where an income withholding order is entered, it must be served on the paying parent’s The income withholding order directs the employer to deduct the child support amount directly from the paying parent’s wages and pay it to the CSPRC. The order must take effect immediately, unless the judge explains in writing why a delay is necessary and in the children’s best interests. The challenge with these orders is that they can only be effected where the parent is a W2 earner.
A parent in Fairfield who pays child support and has concerns about automatic income withholding through their employer should speak with an attorney. Depending on the circumstances, alternative payment arrangements may be possible.
Child support is withheld from the paying parent’s wages on a per-paycheck basis. If a parent is paid twice per month, half of the monthly child support amount is deducted from each paycheck.
The receiving parent may choose how often the funds are disbursed. The CSPRC may send payments weekly, biweekly, monthly, or on another schedule the parent selects.
Wage withholding does not work for all parents. Some paying parents are in business for themselves, retired, live off investments, or are unemployed. Other arrangements are possible in these cases.
Fairfield parents should work with an experienced child support attorney to craft an alternative payment arrangement. Parents who are not subject to automatic income withholding can set up direct withdrawals from their bank accounts to the CSPRC. They can also pay by credit card or make in-person cash payments at a CSPRC office.
Where CSPRC is not involved, which is in a majority of child support cases handled by the Family Superior Court versus the Child Support Magistrate Court, parents can set up direct deposits or another form of documented pay arrangement.
Negotiating a child support agreement is often challenging, and it is important to set up a payment process that is sustainable and clear. The attorneys at Dolan Divorce Lawyers are here to help you ensure your children’s financial needs are met.
Contact us today for a consultation.
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