Child Support Orders

An agency that exists in every state to find parents that don't have custody (called "noncustodial parents," or "NCPs") or to find the person assumed to be the parent of a child (called a "putative parent"). A CSE Agency makes, enforces, and changes child support, as well as collects and gives out child support money.

Child support that is overdue or unpaid. A parent that has arrearages is "in arrears."

The total amount of child support payments that you owe or that are late.

A court order delivered ("served") by a levying officer or registered process server that directs a judgment debtor's employer to withhold the earnings of the judgment debtor for the purpose of wage garnishment.

The obligee is the person owed support. The obligor is the person who must pay.

An order or judgment that provides for medical support for a child of a parent covered by a group health plan or provides for health benefit coverage for the child.

Family Code § 3901: The duty to support a child ends when the child completes the 12th grade or attains 19 years of age, whichever occurs first, unless there is a court order for a longer period of support. Family Code § 3651 addresses circumstances when support orders may be modified or terminated.

Family Code § 4009: Family courts can make child support orders retroactive to the date of filing. Family Code § 3600 defines temporary child support orders that may be issued during the pendency of a proceeding.

Family Code § 3900: Both parents of a minor child have an equal responsibility to support their child in the manner suitable to the child's circumstances. Family Code § 3910 extends this duty to incapacitated adult children.

Family Code § 4057.5: New-mate income (income of a parent's new spouse or partner) shall not be considered as a basis for increasing or decreasing a child support order. However, this income may be considered if excluding it would create extreme hardship to the child.

Family Code § 4058: Defines the annual gross income of each parent for purposes of calculating child support, including income from wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment, rental income, and other sources. Family Code § 4059 defines annual net disposable income after allowable deductions.