Missouri Child Support
From LoveToKnow Divorce
Understanding Missouri Child Support Laws
Missouri child support laws are designed to provide for the financial support of minor children in the state after their parents' divorce. The Missouri child support calculator is an excellent tool to guide parents struggling with child support issues.
Gathering Information
Before the court will calculate your Missouri child support payments, the court will gather information from you and the other parent. The court will examine the following:
- Gross income of both parents
- Childcare costs
- Spousal support paid or received
- Child support for children of other relationships
- Expenses related to the care of ailing parents
- Health insurance costs
- Federal, state, and local taxes paid
- Extra educational expenses such as music lessons
- Extraordinary child expenses such as braces
Child support guidelines are not a law themselves. Regardless of the child support guidelines, the court is still free to order the support it deems appropriate. If the court deviates from the child support guidelines, the judge must state the specific reasons supporting his decision in writing. The allows the parents to appeal the judge’s written decision.
Changing Your Missouri Child Support Order
Once the court enters a child support order, the parents must exchange their tax returns and other financial documents every two years. The court’s child support order is subject to modification whenever reapplication of the Missouri Child Support Guidelines results in a sum that is 15% higher or lower than the child support order that is in effect.
Some attorneys will offer ways to lower your child support payments. However, it is always best to be honest and candid with the court. The court often modified a child support order upon:
- A change in the custody of a child
- A raise or cut in the income of either parent
- Addition of or a change in the availability of health insurance coverage
- Obligation of either parent to support other children or his/her elderly parents
- Additional expenses for special needs of gifted or handicapped children
- Additional unexpected medical or educational expenses
Terminating Child Support
Missouri child support laws require a parent pay child support until the child turns 18 and graduates from high school, turns 19, dies or is emancipated. However, this law will not apply to a child suffering from severe special needs.
Enforcement
Missouri child-support orders are often enforced by a mandatory payroll deduction. With a mandatory payroll deduction, the court orders the parent’s employer to turn over payroll funds to the state for the support of the children. If the court orders a mandatory payroll deduction for the payment of child support, employers cannot refuse to implement the court’s order. Also, if the court orders a mandatory payroll deduction, the parents cannot agree to different payment terms between themselves. The state may also enforce the child support order by:
- Suspending Missouri driver licenses
- Suspending other licenses such as hunting and fishing licenses, occupational or professional licenses
- Garnishing IRS tax refunds
- Placing bank account levies and garnishments
- Placing liens on homes or land and personal property such as cars and boats
- Garnishing winnings over $600, unemployment compensation, and worker's compensation
- Reporting the child support debt to credit bureaus, which can affect the noncustodial parent's credit rating and ability to obtain loans
- Cooperating with the court in the getting arrest warrants, which are entered into Missouri's crime computer and used by law enforcement officers statewide to apprehend and keep individuals in custody
Further Information
To learn more about your Missouri child support payments, contact the Missouri Department of Social Services at (573) 751-4301 or toll-free at (800) 859-7999. To learn more about Missouri child support enforcement, contact the Missouri Child Support Enforcement Program.
Comments
Beth,
If your former husband has been ordered by the Court to pay for medical insurance and he has let it lapse, you should consult a lawyer about bringing a motion to have him declared in contempt of court. You might also want to contact the Court Clerk's office that issued the order to ask what forms you would need to file to do this yourself. In the meantime, you may want to consider looking into a short-term health insurance plan so your daughter has some coverage.
Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor
Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor
-- Contributed by: JCRedmondHi, I hope you can give me some answers to my dilemma. My ex husband is required to pay for medical insurance and this is subtracted from his monthly child support. I found out today that my child has no insurance now. My ex is no longer working but has plenty of assets from an inhertitance he recieved last year at the same time he quit his job. Child support enforcement of Missouri has said there is nothing they will/can do. Now my child has no insurance and I can't get her on mine until November. I'm pretty sure I can't qualify for medicaid but I'm planning on looking into it. Is their anything I can do? Sorry here is my correct email. I just can't think after this news today!
-- Contributed by: bethJenn,
You aren't out of options yet. If you don't qualify for legal aid, call the closest law school to see whether they have a legal clinic where students act for clients under the direction of an experienced attorney. You can also hire a private agency to help you collect unpaid child support. No fee is charged; they take a percentage of the amount recovered instead. Child Support Network is one example. Visit them online at http://www.childsupport.com
If child support remains unpaid, you can arrange to have your ex's income tax refund "attached" and this money will be given to you. He may be subject to criminal prosecution in certain cir...stances. This article from Lawyers.com will explain more:
http://family-law.lawyers.com/child-support/Collecting-Past-Due-Child-Support.html
Finally, if your ex's employer is not sending in the child support payments as ordered, she will be liable for them herself. The child support collections office should be informed that your ex's aunt is not deducting the payments from his wages. You can find out more here:
http://www.inc.com/magazine/19930401/3469.html
Ihope this helps.
Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor
-- Contributed by: JCRedmondThis page has been accessed 1,773 times. This page was last modified 22:13, 15 January 2008.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.
