North carolina child support enforcement program

In , the Family Support Act included child support provisions that established mandatory guidelines for determining child support obligation amounts and time frames for providing CSS services. States were also required to develop automated collection and payment tracking systems. In , the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act OBRA allowed the mother and natural father to voluntarily acknowledge the paternity of a child born outside of marriage while at the birthing hospital. In , a major overhaul was made to the welfare system in the U.

Child support became more crucial to families that could no longer stay on welfare for extended periods of time. Some important components of Welfare Reform included:. A requirement that states create a centralized collection operation to process child support payments.

A requirement that states create a central repository of employment information for newly hired employees. In North Carolina, this has resulted in the creation of the N. This employment information is transmitted to the National Directory of New Hires and is used to aid in the establishment and enforcement of child support orders.

States were also required to notify employers within two 2 business days when their new employees were subject to income withholding. States were required to maintain a state case registry with records of their child support cases. Financial institution data match FIDM , which allows CSS to secure information from financial institutions to aid in the enforcement of child support orders. North Carolina began using this remedy before Welfare Reform. This system receives and shares data with more than 30 state, federal and private agencies.

ACTS supports the functions needed to perform CSS activities at the local and state level including case management, financial management, document and report generation and supervisory functions.

CSS caseworkers use ACTS to add and update cases, enter and modify court order data after a hearing, review payment and collection activities, perform enforcement activities such as income withholding, assets attachment and tax intercepts, document their activities in the case record online and interact with CSS agencies in other states.

Evaluate their cases and determine the support activities to be pursued. Contract with attorneys to represent cases in civil court actions. Work with all parties in a case providing information or explanation of case activities when appropriate. Keep the information that they receive confidential. Only information that is public record can be divulged. NC law requires CSS to list the Social Security numbers of all parties who are involved in a child support case on documents that establish paternity and support.

Abide by federal regulations and state laws when handling child support cases. A child support order cannot be established for a child who is born to unmarried parents unless the alleged father acknowledges paternity or is proven the father. A legal order must be established that specifies the amount of support to be paid for the benefit of a child. The successful establishment of a support order depends upon several critical areas:.

CSS collects and distributes child support payments. A court order for child support dictates the frequency of support payments and the amount of support to be paid. Payments methods include:. Child support payments are distributed and disbursed based on federal regulations and state statutes. Establishing a child support order is no guarantee that the noncustodial parent will pay the support.

CSS identifies these cases and uses several enforcement tools to get payment. Income withholding by employers is the single most effective method of child support collection.

Income withholding can be initiated with entities other than employers when the Noncustodial Parent has other sources of income, such as:. For information contact your local child support office , local Department of Social Services , or see the Child Support Handbook.

Child Support Services Child Support Services CSS are available to anyone who needs help collecting child support through a network of state and locally run offices. The CSS program is not authorized to help with custody, visitation or property settlements. The following information can help the CSS locate noncustodial parents: Name Date of birth Social Security number Address Employer Vehicle ownership information Paternity Establishment Establishing a legal father for a child helps the child receive certain rights such as: Possible knowledge of the father's family medical history Social Security benefits Death and insurance benefits Military benefits A child support order cannot be established for a child who is born to unmarried parents unless the alleged father acknowledges paternity or is proven the father.

The most convenient time for parents to establish paternity for their child is in the hospital when the child is born. The father must be present and provide identification to have his name placed on the Affidavit of Parentage.

When this document is filed with Vital Records, both parents' names are recorded on the birth certificate. Genetic DNA testing is recommended if there are doubts regarding the paternity of the child. Blood or tissue samples may be used for testing. Test results may provide peace of mind to parents who establish paternity voluntarily. Results may be presented as evidence in legal proceedings to establish paternity.

Establishment of Support Obligations A legal order must be established that specifies the amount of support to be paid for the benefit of a child. The successful establishment of a support order depends upon several critical areas: Locating the Noncustodial Parent.