How to Comply With a Child Support Withholding Order

Author: Alice Gilman

Child support payments may be made either through a wage withholding order sent to an employer or pursuant to an alternative, court-approved payment agreement between custodial and noncustodial parents. But even if the latter method is used, if a noncustodial parent who owes support falls behind on payments by one month or more, automatic wage withholding begins immediately. So either way, employers are key players in the child support system. And, because employers are subject to serious penalties for failing to comply with such orders, they need to be well versed in all their relevant aspects. Taking the following steps will help an employer to better manage its child support withholding responsibilities.