Child support payments: are there any fees taken out of the money 'paid' before it reaches the child?

Question

My daughter's father wants me to cancel the child support case, citing the reason being that they take fees out of the money they take from him and not all of it goes to the baby. Is this true? Or is this just yet another of his billions of excuses and lies?

We came to the agreement that he would help with her costs fo formula and diapers, a meagre $100 a month (and I personally spend over $300/month on JUST food and diapers, so I dont see how the hell $100 is that harsh of me). She's 9 1/2 months old. He's never tried to see her, never sent any money, so I signed the papers to open a child support case. He cheated on me, he's lied to me any number of times, and despite that, I'd never keep him from seeing her, as he IS her father. I would just like SOME sort of help with her upkeep and bills. The papers have only been signed for a few weeks, nothing has gone to court or whatever, they're still in the 'locating him' phase.
I love my daughter and would do anything needed to help her.
He's saying he won't send a single penny unless the child support case is dropped because the govt takes a huge chunk of it before it would go to her, and that they will basically take all of his money to make him pay back for the past 9 1/2 months.

Answer 1

Don't drop the case, it is just and excuse. It sounds like if you leave it up to him, you won't ever see a dime.

Most Courts have a yearly processing amount that he will have to pay to the Court, which could range from $35-$100 and his employer can take out a service fee per paycheck for processing the payment, but it is usually on a few dollars; however, those fees are built into the order AFTER the determination for child support is calculated and he has to pay those fees in addition to what the Court orders (ex: if he is ordered to pay $25.00 a week and the processing fee is $2.00, the amount that will be taken out of his check is $52.00).

What he is likely freaking out over is that Child Support is based on the income of the mother and the father and what is is to pay is assigned under a formula; most likely the formula that the Court is going to order his to pay is going to much higher than $25.00 a week.

To get the facts straight where you live, as it varies depending on what State and sometimes even what County you reside in, contact your County Child Support agency or check out their website.

Answer 2

Why, has he lied to you before? Even if he does pay a fee. Doesn't it make since that it is done this way. Cause what if you cancel the child support and have it dropped and then he stops paying it all together with a lame excuse he can't afford it or thinks he pays you too much and he gives only as he thinks is needs. I'm not 100% sure. But don't you have to go to court or something to have something like that dropped? They keep record of what he has pd and what he falls back on. And in this case it helps you cause they have it one record and he can go to Jail for not paying. So in the long run. I think it is good. Wheather or not they take a fee out. I'm sure you can call where the child support he is paying it into will tell you if there is a fee. Has he told you how much he pays? And is it the same as how much you get? Cause if he pays lets say $100 a week. Do you get the $100 a week? But I would think you have court orders on that to see what he pays. So you can tell if he is lieing or not.

Answer 3

no,actually he will pay an additional fee to the county. it is the only thing the courts care about. they don't care about the child,only the money they make as a result of the child. in case you are wondering,i am a man,but i have custody and don't agree about the support, the county that ordered support for our son makes over $100,000 a week off child support off all the cases

Answer 4

I have paid child support here in SC , she and I went together and had it dropped , I paid her 175 dollars for one child every week , the county added in a 5% processing fee . so yes it is possible , the court system does not do anything for free , I would go to an attorney ,and modify the child support order so he is ordered to pay the support directly to you , if he fails to pay you the support can file an affidavit of arrears and the courts will pick him up , and can resume collecting , when my ex started that on me , I told her I do not need to be made to keep up my child , she did not believe me so what I paid her was all she got out of me , after she became tired of seeing my son doing without a lot of things he wanted and needed , she dropped the support all together , and now my son gets so much more , being forced to pay will make some hold a grude and takae it out on the child by not spending the allowed time with a child , not all but some , they are others who should be made to pay more just for being a "loser dad " ..I never did agree with the court system on support or visitation , I do not think it is right for a child to know I can be a father to them as long as I pay mommy ,and the court to be their father , plus if a man is willing to help with the costs of raising a child , and then he falls on hard times he can not pay the courts so that makes him a dead beat dad ,and the kids get to see daddy go to jail . There is no reason why good parents should have a court telling them who can see the child and who can not see the child on certian days , and if they do not pay they can not be a dad , ..I do agree that some have to , there are sorry dad's as well as sorry mom's , but if a civilized man ,and woman can make the decision to get married or bump uglies and make a baby , they should be civilized enough to work this out among themselves . My ex wife ,and I have a son who is now 15 , I have custody , because she could not behave back then , now I allow my son to live with her ,and her new man , I go over every Friday to pick up my son , I am invited in , we even eat Friday dinner together at their house or cook out here , Her new guy and I get along well , He has even made the joke by saying " Do you want your wife back , it won't take me long to pack her up " and I replied "No , but I would love to borrow the four wheeler" we laugh all the time and yes he does let me use his ATV , and he borrows my truck when they need to. There is no reason for a real Mom , and a real Father to set their differences aside , and get along with each other to raise a child they made , After all there are no winners in family court ,because the child is always the loser , and who wants credit for that , you two ,can sit down together and work something out for the sake of this child , you are the mom , he is the dad , why make the child suffer over both parents problem , You two loved each other enough to make the baby , yet can not get along enough to raise it , that is sad , and so is your child. You thought enough to allow him to screw you , but can not work together for the sake of saving this child from the devistation of having a mom and dad who hate each other , it does not matter who blew the relationship , no one is perfect , we all make mistakes , put that behind you , stop holding the grudge over his mistake , your child is suffering because of this grudge both of you get over it and move on , otherwise your child will think he is the mistake . I can go on ,and on , I have been there you two are not punishing each other ,nor or you getting even by all of this childish behavior , you child is watching ,.and listening to everything going on. And will one day come to his own conclusion that he is the problem , because has he not been born ,daddy would not have to go to jail because he did not have the money to be my daddy , and how would that make you feel , If you two are so critical of each other ,and so much hate for each other , how in this world can either of you love what you made together . You loved each other enough to make it , why not enough to raise it , I would seriously question the maturity of both of you , to see if you two are mature enough to even have a child.

Answer 5

Not true. Unless you go thru one of the NOT gov't run child support programs.

I get the court ordered amount...he doesn't pay any fees - I think they hold the $$ a few days for interest purposes....

Answer 6

He'll have to pay for the peternity testing and sometimes the court fees they will try to recoup, but you will get all the money owed to you, and they will garnish his wages so he can't be late on his payments. Well, assuming he doesn't change his job every month.

Answer 7

In most states that's not true. I would call child support to get the facts.

But what's true is that child services keep the money for a while to earn bank interests (that they keep for themselves of course).

Answer 8

That is called a lie.