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Collecting child support
Unless the court approves a different payment method, child support payments must be withheld from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck. A wage withholding order is sent to the non-custodial parent’s employer within 15 days after an employer is located. In most cases, the employer must start withholding no later than 10 days after receiving the wage assignment. The wage withholding remains in effect as long as the parent remains employed.
Step-by-step
collecting and receiving child support |
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The court issues a child support order and wage withholding order
Child support payments can be received by:
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Questions and answers—collecting child support
What happens when the obligor has money to pay child support but still won’t pay?
The Placer County Department of Child Support Services can use a variety of enforcement tools available to collect the payments. Also, the court may find an obligor in contempt of court, or in rare instances, guilty of a misdemeanor and/or felony.
What should I do if the obligor moves away?
Tell us—child support can be enforced anywhere in the United States. Also, if you have custody and move away, your child support case can be transferred to your new county or state.
I have a California support order and the other parent lives in another state. I asked the other state to help me collect support, but the judge lowered the child support amount. Is that legal?
Laws known as the Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act may prevent a state from changing another state’s court orders. If the child lives here and an order is issued in California, only a California court can change it in most cases.
May I look at the payment records?
Yes, you may see the records of all payments made by the obligor on your case. If you have custody and you think our agency made a mistake, you have the right to ask for a review or audit.
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| Key Definitions |
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Obligor – The person who owes court-ordered child support.
Obligee - The parent or guardian to whom child support is owed. | |