{"id":587,"date":"2018-04-23T20:28:55","date_gmt":"2018-04-23T20:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/?page_id=587"},"modified":"2025-02-04T16:04:48","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T16:04:48","slug":"child-support","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/child-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Child Support"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-590 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/child-support-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/child-support-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/child-support-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/child-support-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/child-support-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/child-support.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\" \/><\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHAT\u00a0 IS CHILD SUPPORT?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Child Support is\u00a0court-ordered payments, typically made by a noncustodial parent, to support one&#8217;s minor child or children.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">IF I AM INCARCERATED, DO I NEED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>New Maryland Law on Child Support and Incarceration: Effective October 1, 2024<\/strong>, a new law in Maryland will provide assistance to parents unable to make child support payments due to any length of incarceration after that date. While relief for periods of incarceration before this date is limited, it is still possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">For more information, contact your local child support office at 1-800-332-6347<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO QUALIFY?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Contact your local child support office and give them the following information: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Your name, social security number and date of birth; <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Your state identification number (SID#), name and address of the institution where you are incarcerated; <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The date you were sentenced; <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The length of the sentence imposed by the court; <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Your address and phone number upon your release; and, <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The names of your children, the names of their parent(s), and your child support case number(s).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> IS THERE ANY REASON WHY I MIGHT NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS<\/span><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> RELIEF?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000080;\">You do not qualify:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">If you are on work release;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">If you have sufficient funds to continue to make your child support payments; or,\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">If you committed the crime with the intent of being incarcerated or otherwise becoming impoverished.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHAT HAPPENS NEXT AFTER I CONTACT MY LOCAL CHILD CUPPORT OFFICE AND THEY FIND I QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Your local child support worker will adjust your account to reflect that payments are not currently due and will not become due until 60 days after your release from incarceration. In addition, your local child support worker will adjust your account so that your arrearages balance will not increase while you are incarcerated and for 60 days after your release.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">CAN CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT AMOUNTS BE MODIFIED?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">YES, but modifications or changes to child support do not happen automatically. To make a change, one of the parents must ask the court to change the existing child support order.\u00a0 This is done with a written \u201cmotion\u201d or a formal request to the court.\u00a0\u00a0The circuit court will have free \u201cmotion\u201d forms that you can fill out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The court <em>that makes the original child support award<\/em> can modify the order if either parent&#8217;s situations changes &#8220;materially&#8221;. \u201cMaterial\u201d means that the change matters and is relevant to the situation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Either parent (the parent who pays, or the person who receives the payment) may ask the court to change the order while the child is under age 18.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">HOW DO I GET MY CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS MODIFIED?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">There are two ways you can try to change a child support order.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u00a0Once every three years, either parent has the right to ask the office of Child Support Enforcement to review the child support order for possible modification. If you request a review and modification, you should put your request in writing and keep a copy for yourself as proof that you made the request. Explain why you are requesting the review of your order, sign and date it, and include your child support case number and other identifying information on the request.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">At any time, either parent can file a motion to modify an existing child support order. You should file the motion in the circuit court that issued the child support order. A family law self-help center in the circuit court can often provide forms and limited help to people without a lawyer who are filing court documents.<\/span>*<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The form to do this can be found here:\u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"http:\/\/https:\/\/mdcourts.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/import\/family\/forms\/ccdr006.pdf\">Child Support Modification Petition<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">*In Baltimore City, motions can be filed in the paternity division or family division of the clerk\u2019s office, depending on how the original order was created. You may need to check both offices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Clerk\u2019s office, paternity division, Mitchell Courthouse, Room 441, (410) 333-3738<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> Clerk\u2019s office, family division, Courthouse East, Room 462, (410) 333-3711<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> Pro se office (help for people without lawyers), Courthouse East, Room 232<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHAT SITUATIONS MIGHT CAUSE A CHANGE IN CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">In order to change court-ordered child support payments, you must show that things have changed significantly since the support order.\u00a0 Circumstances may change many times during the years of child support payments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">For example, in Maryland, if one parent&#8217;s income has changed (either gone up or down) by at least 25%, this is usually enough of a change to require changing the support order and you can request a modification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The child support order can also be changed if the child&#8217;s needs change, such as if the child becomes sick or disabled, the court can increase the amount of support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Sometimes, time passing alone changes circumstances. For example, as a child grows older, it becomes more expensive to buy clothes, food, and other items. More expenses can justify<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000080;\">increasing child support payments.<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> Support can also be reduced if the paying parent can show why this would be fair. For example, support payments may be reduced if the parent who has custody over the child inherits money, gets a large raise, or otherwise has an increased ability to support the child. Or, if the paying parent loses his or her job, the court can be asked to reduce support during the period of unemployment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Other examples of changed circumstances can include becoming disabled or <em>being sentenced to jail or prison.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">IS IT OK TO AGREE VERBALLY TO CHANGE THE CHILD SUPPORT AMOUNT?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">NO.\u00a0 Even if you agree to a change in payments with the other parent, it will not be binding.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Do not make the mistake of modifying child support based on an oral agreement, or otherwise agreeing to a payment that differs from the court order. This can lead to future problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">The problem with oral agreements is that they are often unclear and you may not realize it at the time. People\u2019s memories and understandings of the situation may differ. Any agreement that you make to modify child support should be put in writing so that there is no confusion later on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">IF I QUIT MY JOB, CAN I HAVE MY CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS REDUCED?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><em><strong>VOLUNTARY IMPOVERISHMENT<\/strong><\/em><em>\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">A parent cannot avoid his or her child support obligation by not making enough money <em>on purpose<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">This is called <em><strong>\u201cvoluntary impoverishment.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d The parent\u2019s conscious choice to not make enough money to pay the ordered child support does not have to be about avoiding child support \u2013 it can be for other reasons, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"> If the court finds a parent owing child support has \u201cvoluntarily impoverished\u201d himself or herself, the court may \u201cimpute income\u201d to the parent. This means that the court will act as if the parent has an income when determining the child support payment.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #000080;\">To decide whether to \u201cimpute\u201d income to the parent, and how much, the court will look at the parent\u2019s physical condition, level of education, the timing of any employment changes, the relationship of the parties, the parent\u2019s efforts to obtain a job or training, past work history, and other factors.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><em>Maryland courts do not consider a parent being in jail or prison to be \u201cvoluntary impoverishment\u201d unless the parent committed the crime intending to avoid paying child support. Willis v. Jones, 340 Md. 480 (1995)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">DOES THE CHILD SUPPORT ORDER STILL EXIST WHILE I AM INCARCERATED?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Yes. The child support order still exists even while payments are not due because you are incarcerated.\u00a0 It is just suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Sixty (60) days after you are released, you must begin paying child support payments again, as the child support order requires. You will not owe the payments you missed while you were in jail or prison, but the same child support payment will begin 60 days after release.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT PAY MY CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS AFTER I AM RELEASED?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Every parent has the legal duty to support their children and Maryland takes this very seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Failure to pay child support, or failure to pay on time, can trigger the<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">\u00a0<\/span><a style=\"color: #000080;\" href=\"http:\/\/dhr.maryland.gov\/child-support-services\/\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Office of Child Support Enforcement<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 to take any of the following measures to resolve the issue:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Asking the court that you be held in contempt.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> When held in contempt, judges can, and will, put you in jail for non-payment of child support.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Garnishing your employment, unemployment, or worker\u2019s compensation wages.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> The law in Maryland allows for the full amount of child support to be garnished, as well as a portion of any arrearages owed.<span id=\"more-1914\"><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Garnishing your bank accounts.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> The OCSE will go after any money you might have in a checking or savings account to which your name is attached. Accounts jointly held with another person are not protected from garnishment to pay child support.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Intercepting any federal or state income tax refunds<\/strong>.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> If you owe child support payments and you expect to receive a tax refund, your refund will be sent to the Office of Child Support Enforcement to be applied to your child support payments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Intercepting lottery winnings.<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> You hit the lottery!\u00a0 Not so fast . . .If you hit the Mega Millions, Powerball, or have any other lottery winnings to which you have to submit to the Maryland Lottery in order to receive your winnings, the lottery office will first ensure that you are not on the list for unpaid child support before issuing any winnings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Reporting unpaid child support to the three credit bureaus.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Reporting unpaid child support to the MVA<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000080;\"> This can result in the\u00a0<a style=\"color: #000080;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mva.maryland.gov\/about-mva\/info\/26100\/26100-40T.htm\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">suspension of your driver\u2019s license<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Reporting unpaid child support to professional and recreational licensing centers<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>Denying the reissuance of a passport.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WHAT\u00a0 IS CHILD SUPPORT? Child Support is\u00a0court-ordered payments, typically made by a noncustodial parent, to support one&#8217;s minor child or children. IF I AM INCARCERATED, DO I NEED TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT? New Maryland Law on Child Support and Incarceration: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/child-support\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read More &#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/587"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=587"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1467,"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/587\/revisions\/1467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.navigatingreentry.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}