Prince George's Bureau of Child Support Enforcement
From LoveToKnow Divorce
The goal of Prince George's Bureau of Child Support Enforcement is the same as with other branches of this agency: to ensure that parents do not ignore their financial responsibilities toward their children. Children will reap the benefits of having both parents involved in their lives. Reduced welfare costs is another advantage to having both parents actively supporting their children.
Role of Prince George's Bureau of Child Support Enforcement
Child support programs operate at the local, state, and federal levels to provide services to children. They can:
- Locate Non-custodial Parents
- Assist in Establishing Paternity
- Enforcing Orders for Child Support
- Collect Support Payments
- Distribute Payments to the Appropriate Individuals
- Work with Authorities in Other States and Internationally on Child Support Issues
Collecting Unpaid Child Support
Prince George's Bureau of Child Support Enforcement has a number of tools at its disposal to collect child support that has been ordered and remained unpaid:
- Garnishment of Wages
- Seizure of Property and Other Assets
- Revocation of Driver's License
- Putting a Lien on Real Property
A parent who is behind in child support payments may also have his or her passport denied. Professional licenses are also subject to revocation for non-payment of child support.
Co-Operating with Other Agencies
In the past, it has been difficult to enforce child support orders when the non-custodial parent and the child or children live in different states. Child support enforcement agencies are directed to pursue their work to locate non-custodial parents (and collect child support payments owing) in the same vigorous manner, no matter where the children involved happen to reside.
Courts in each region of the United States are required to recognize an order for child support made by another court that had jurisdiction over the parties in a support application.
In a situation where the non-custodial parent lives out of state, the paperwork to allow a portion of his or her income to be withheld and sent to the custodial parent without having to involve a child support enforcement agency. As long as the non-custodial parent's place of work is known, the garnishment can take place automatically.
Establishing Out-of-State Paternity
If the man being named as the father lives in a different state than the child and his or her mother, you may be able to start an application to establish paternity in your state if the man once resided there. The mother can also have her state of residence petition the state where the alleged father currently lives to establish the child's paternity there. If necessary, genetic testing can be ordered to establish who a child's father is.
To make a claim for child support, the more information you can provide to your caseworker, the better. If possible, provide the staff assisting you with the man's current address, along with the name and address of his employer. Should you receive the word that he has either moved or changed jobs, do share this information with your caseworker promptly.
Child Support Recovery Act
Under the terms of the Child Support Recovery Act (1992), it is a federal offense to fail to make child support payments for a child who lives in another state if the amount in arrears is $5,000.00 or greater, or if the support remains unpaid for a period of 12 months or more.
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