We get questions about child support all the time – whether its the best way to pay your bills, or who is responsible, or how much you have to pay, we understand that learning everything about the process can be difficult and time consuming. So, we put together this helpful list of the top 5 questions about child support that we receive here at SupportPay.
1. Who Pays?
Probably the one we hear the most – who pays child support? In most cases, the parent who does not have primary custody pays child support.
2. How much will I have to pay in child support?
The actual amount of child support you have to pay varies case by case and state by state. Most people will end up paying based on a percentage of their net income. Net income is the income after deductions, taxes, social security and Medicare. In Texas, for example, the amount of child support to be paid for one child is typically 20% of net income.3.
3. What if child support hasn’t been paid?
You have many resources at your disposal to get paid for child support. Some of them include being able to use Supportpay to track and make sure that you are receiving your payments on time. This will make the process easier to remind the other parent that payments are due. However, if the problem persists the court may issue an order for you to receive your payments.
4. How are child support payments made?
We get this question often, and this is part of what motivated us at Supportpay. Each state is different and may have slightly different means of tracking and sending payments, which can lead to many nightmares for both the payer and payee. And Supportpay actually helps with any disputes that may arise in courts over child support payments – because we have one system that tracks it all, and can be used as court records.
5. How long must I pay child support?
Unless an agreement has been reached between both parties, the standard is that child support must be paid until the child turns 18 years old and is no longer in high school. However, if the child happens to be disabled, then payments could continue.
But let us know what other questions about child support you may have – we’re here to help!
And please, register with SupportPay today to make your child support payments easier.