DES Child Support Enforcement Arizona

When it comes to DES child support enforcement, Arizona has a number of measures which can be put into place. The DES (Division of Child Support Enforcement) is the government agency responsible for enforcing child support orders in the State. The DES provides services at no cost to Arizona residents. It receives funding from both the federal and State governments.

Arizona residents can get help collecting child support from DES.

DES provides services to enforce existing child support orders. It cannot enforce orders for spousal maintenance. Support payments collected by the agency are forwarded to the custodial parent; the agency does not provide support payments and then attempt to collect the payments from the other parent.

If a non-custodial parent has not kept up with child support payments as ordered, the following measures can be taken to bring the past-due payments up to date:

• Seizure of Assets (includes moneys held in bank accounts and retirement plans)
• Credit Reporting Agency Notified of Back Child Support Owing
• License Suspension or Denial (includes drivers license, professional licenses, hunting and fishing licenses)
• Denial of Passport Application
• Seizure of Income Tax Refund or Property Tax Credits
• Lien Filed Against Real Property
• Accounts Frozen (an account held jointly with another individual may be frozen)

Interest is charged on unpaid child support at the rate of 10% per annum. Interest also accrues on retroactive support ordered.

Child support in Arizona is calculated using a formula which takes into account the following figures:

• Gross Income of Each Parent
• Amount of Support Payments Being Made for Children from Previous Marriages or Other Relationships
• Amount of Spousal Maintenance Being Paid/Received
• Health Insurance Costs for the Child/Children

The following considerations are also factored in:

• Number of Children Aged 12 and Up
• Number of Days the Children are in the Care of Each Parent
• Date and Month of the Youngest Child's Birthday

In Arizona, the Statute of Limitations sets the limitation date for collecting unpaid child support as the end of the third year following emancipation of the youngest child for whom support was ordered. Under Arizona law, the age of emancipation is 18 years. If a written judgment was obtained, the custodial parent has the legal right to collect support until the debt is paid off.

DES Child Support Enforcement Arizona accepts the following methods of payment for child support:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Wire Transfer (Western Union)
• Automatic Withdrawal from a Checking/Savings Account

Custodial parents receiving child support payments have the option of accessing funds through the use of an electronic payment card. This card can be used to withdraw funds in cash from an automatic teller machine (ATM) or it can be used to pay for items from retailers who accept Visa Debit cards.

DES can assist provide assistance in finding the other parent. The agency has the ability to access federal and state records to find out where the missing parent lives or is employed. A custodial parent wishing to get this type of assistance is asked to provide as much information as possible, including:

• Full Name
• Last Known Address
• Date of Birth
• Social Security Number
• A Photograph
• Financial Information (bank records, insurance policies, pension plan statements)

• Community Property with Right of Survivorship
• Divorce Equitable Distribution
• Division of Marital Property

• Free Legal Separation Forms
• Divorce Statistics
• Legal Separation
• Filing for Legal Separation
• Green Card Divorce

• Rate of Alimony Payments
• Florida Divorce
• Arizona Divorce
• Colorado Divorce
• Child Support and What It Can Be Used On