child support?

Question

who do i give the money for child support the mom of the child or do i need to pay the state and then they give her the money

my son is 13
we live in va

Answer 1

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Read over the court order it should say if where you are to make the payments.

Is the court order out of VA?
If it is then go to this web site.
http://www.dss.state.va.us/family/dcse.html

Check and make sure this is the right site cause there is one also for west virginia.

The states look at child support and visitation as seperate so keep good records on both. You will thank me for this in years to come.

***I can not say this enough.***
ALWAYS DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and make every payment on time.

DOCUMENT ~ DOCUMENT ~ DOCUMENT everything!!!!!

Pay consistantly, on time each month. DO NOT GIVE CASH.
Always pay by money order or check and keep copies of the receipts, money order stub, and cleared checks of EVERYTHING YOU HAVE PAID.

***If you pay directly to ex then get a file and keep organized records of every child support payment.***

***Keep receipts of everything you buy your children because EVERYTHING you buy can be applied to your child support arrears***if there is any. Never say it was a gift ~especially if there are arrears. DO NOT EVER GET INTO ARREARS.

If there are arrears then the x can file to get income tax refund so don't file jointly with your new spouse unless the tax company you use documents it so the irs does not take your new spouses part of the refund. not sure about that but you will have to ask a cpa.

****>In some cases it it better to go through the child support enforcement office because it holds both sides accountable BUT if you ever get behind on a payment they will become the child support payee's enemy and no matter what your x is doing will not matter cause THEY WANT THE MONEY.****<

KEEP GOOD RECORDS on visits, children behaviors, phone calls, money, time spent and not spent together & etc.

Answer 2

You can do it either way - if the two of you are amicable, I'd suggest giving it directly to her, and either in the form of money order or check, not cash, so that you can show what you have paid if it ever becomes an issue.

If you go through the state, you run the risk of if you do get behind, instead of being able to work out something reasonably with your ex, the state takes over, adds interest,garnishes your wages, in some states takes your driving privileges away...

However, the court may have already made the choice for you - if they stipulate you have to go through child enforcement - you are stuck paying the state.

Answer 3

I think it depends on the agreement. Save yourself some grief and try to get it set up through the state. Definitely make sure you have some legal documents. I've met more than one man who paid a child support informally agreed on by both parents and ended up getting sued through Deadbeat Dads. It's a ripoff, but you can pay decent support for years and still end up in trouble.

It will save you worry to do it through a lawyer and the state now.

Answer 4

give it to the STATE and NEVER give money directly to the mother. the state can and will come after you support and money given to her will not count. Certainly you could contest that but after 5 years receipts get lost people forget and more importantly they wont give you a chance to make it right they may just arrest you and take you to jail and then prove your innocence. So just go through the state and be safe for everyone.


update====================

the law attorney is correct but 5 years down the road you may not be on god terms and she could get the state to come after you. Certainly we would like to think that divorced parents would stay amicable but you are divorced for a reason. I would keep it safe and go through the state, get a ganrishment and set it and forget it.

Answer 5

you give the money to the state, child support enforcement agency NOT THE MOM remember any money you give to her, she can say either you didnt give it to her, or it was a gift
it must go through the county