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How do you get child support payments


Payment Options | CA Child Support Services

Pay With Your Credit Card

Online:

  • Access the SDU website here (you will then be taken to the SDU website).
  • Select “Parent Paying Support” and follow the prompts to pay with your Mastercard or Visa. 
  • Credit and debit cards processed online will charge a 1.9% service fee on every transaction. This fee is paid to the card processor and is not kept by Child Support Services.
  • Please note, the SDU portal only accepts Discover, Mastercard, or Visa electronic payments.
  • You can also make credit and debit card payments directly through www.ExpertPay.com.

By phone:

  • Call the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) at 1-866-901-3212.
  • Select Option 1.
  • Credit and debit cards processed by phone will charge a 1.9% service fee on every transaction. This fee is paid to the card processor and is not kept by Child Support Services.
  • Please note, the SDU portal only accepts Discover, Mastercard, or Visa electronic payments.
  • You can also make credit and debit card payments by calling ExpertPay at 1-800-403-0879.

At your local child support agency:

  • Most California child support agencies accept credit cards at automated kiosks during regular business hours.  Your county may also have kiosks at the county courthouse or other locations.
  • Credit and debit cards processed through an automated payment kiosk will charge a 2.2% service fee on every transaction. This fee is paid to the card processor and is not kept by Child Support Services.
  • To find out if your county has an automated payment kiosk available, check the listing on our Find A Local Office page.

With PayPal:

  • You will need your Participant ID number and a PayPal account.
  • Methods of payment accepted by PayPal are: PayPal balance, PayPal branded debit and credit cards, bank account debit card, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover).
  • There is a 2. 49% ($3.95 minimum) service fee on every transaction. This fee is paid to the card processor and is not kept by Child Support Services.
  • Please note, the maximum transaction amount per day is $5,000.00 and it may take three or four days for your payment to be posted to your child support account.
Pay With Your Checking or Savings Account

Online:

By phone:

  • Call ExpertPay at 1-800-403-0879
  • Electronic payments can be made from your checking or savings account. 

At your local child support agency:

  • Most California child support agencies accept payment by cash at automated kiosks during regular business hours. Your county may also have kiosks at the county courthouse or other locations.
  • To find out if your county has an automated payment kiosk available, check the listing on our Find A Local Office page.

With PayPal:

  • You will need your Participant ID number and a PayPal account.
  • Methods of payment accepted by PayPal are: PayPal balance, PayPal branded debit and credit cards, bank account debit card, and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover).
  • There is a 2.49% ($3.95 minimum) service fee on every transaction. This fee is paid to the card processor and is not kept by Child Support Services.
  • Please note, the maximum transaction amount per day is $5,000.00 and it may take three or four days for your payment to be posted to your child support account.
Pay With Cash

At your local child support agency:

  • Most California child support agencies accept payment by cash, credit card and e-check at automated kiosks during regular business hours, and a few will accept limited forms of payment over the counter.  Your county may also have kiosks at the county courthouse or other locations.
  • To find out if your county has an automated payment kiosk available, check the listing on our Find A Local Office page.

With PayNearMe:

  • Use PayNearMe at 7-Eleven, Family Dollar, CVS Pharmacies (except inside Target), Casey’s General Store and ACE Cash Express stores.
  • Get a personal PayNearMe barcode on PayNearMe’s California child support page at www. PayNearMe.com/California or by contacting your local child support office at 1-866-901-3212.
  • Present the barcode – either on a smart phone or on paper – to a cashier to be scanned at the counter.
  • Reuse the barcode for future payments or get a new one, as needed.
  • Find a PayNearMe location near you.
  • PayNearMe charges a $1.99 convenience fee and guarantees payments.
  • Please note, it may take three or four days for your payment to be posted to your child support account.

With MoneyGram:

  • Use MoneyGram at Advance America, Albertsons, CVS Pharmacies (except inside Target), Raley’s/Bel Air, Walmart, and others.
  • There are more than 6,200 locations in California and 40,000 nationwide that accept child support payments on California cases.
  • Find a location at https://secure.moneygram.com/locations or call 1-800-926-9400.
  • To make a payment, you will need your Participant ID number and Receive Code 14630.
  • MoneyGram charges a $1. 99 fee and guarantees payments.
  • Please note, it may take three or four days for your payment to be posted to your child support account.
Mail a Check or Money Order
  • Please note, if your case is a private case that is not managed by a child support agency, call 1-866-901-3212 for assistance with making payments by mail.
  • If your case is managed by Child Support Services, you can mail a check or money order to:

CA SDU
PO BOX 989067
West Sacramento, CA
95798-9067

By Direct Deposit
  • Your child support payments can be deposited directly in your checking or savings account.
  • This is safer and faster than waiting for a check to be mailed.
  • To sign up for Direct Deposit, access the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) website here (you will then be taken to the SDU website).
  • Then, select “Person Receiving Support” and you will be taken to the Direct Deposit sign up option.
  • You may now be able to sign up for Direct Deposit into a non-US bank account. The program is currently available for residents of the following countries:
    • Alana Island
    • Austria
    • Australia
    • Azores
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Canada
    • Canary Islands
    • Croatia
    • Cyprus
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark
    • Estonia
    • Finland
    • France
    • French Guiana
    • Germany
    • Gibraltar
    • Greece
    • Guadalupe
    • Hong Kong
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Ireland
    • Italy
    • Latvia
    • Liechtenstein
    • Lithuania
    • Luxembourg
    • Madeira
    • Malta
    • Martinique
    • Mayotte
    • Mexico
    • Monaco
    • Netherlands
    • New Zealand
    • Norway
    • Philippines
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Reunion
    • Romania
    • Saint Barthelemy
    • the French portion of Saint Martin
    • Saint Pierre et Miquelon
    • San Marino
    • Singapore
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • United Kingdom
With an Electronic Payment Card (EPC)
  • You can choose to receive an EPC that looks and works like a pre-paid debit card.
  • Every month, your child support payment will be applied to the card balance and you can use the card anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
  • To apply for an EPC, access the California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) website here and select “Person Receiving Support.”
  • Then follow all prompts to receive your card.
  • Electronic Payment Card Enrollment Flyer
    • English & Spanish
  • For problems with your Electronic Payment Card, please contact Way2Go Customer Service at 1-844-318-0740.
By Check
  • You can still receive your child support payment as a paper check, but this option is slow and insecure, as your payment can be delayed or stolen out of your mail. 
  • California Child Support Services strongly encourages you to use one of the safer electronic payment options.  

Receiving Child Support

Check

Custodial parents will receive their first child support payment by mail in the form of a check.   After the first payment is sent, a debit card will be mailed to the custodial parent.  Once the debit card is received, the custodial parent should call the phone number on the back of the card to activate it.  Once activated, child support payments will be applied to the custodial parent’s debit card account.

Debit Card

The Tennessee Way2Go Card, which is a MasterCard Debit Card, is issued to custodial parents to access their child support payments.  This process provides the custodial parent a safe, convenient and secure way to receive child support payments.

  • Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Debit Card
  • Fee Information

Voice Response System (VRS) and Notice

Custodial Parents and Non-Custodial Parents can use his/her TCSES case number and the last four (4) digits of his/her Social Security number to access our automated Voice Response System (VRS). The VRS can give customers information about the latest child support payment the Department of Human Services has collected and the latest support payment that has been applied to his/her case. By calling the VRS, he/she can also reach a Customer Service Representative who can provide him/her with additional information about his/her child support case. In order to easily access these records, it is important that customers do not lose their TCSES case number. If calling long distance, dial 1-800-838-6911 to reach the VRS toll free. If calling from within the local Nashville, TN calling area, dial 253-4394. The detailed Notice and Debit card fees can be accessed here:  Child Support Voice Response System Notice
 

View Processed Payments

Both the Custodial Parent and Non-Custodial Parent may find a listing of processed payments on-line through the Child Support Payment System at https://apps.tn.gov/tcses/. The site will show the most recent payment information first.  However, the search may be narrowed to payment information for the current month, the last six months, a date range, and/or full payment history.

Please note:  If you enter a date range or choose payment history, the system will display payment information based on the earliest information that can be provided.   The automated system was implemented in January 1996.  The earliest payment information that may be available on this online service is August 1, 2005.  If you had a case that was paid through the clerk’s office prior to October 1, 1999, you must obtain payment information from the clerk for those payments.

If, after selecting date range or payment history, it is felt payment information is not shown, contact  should be made with the Child Support Disbursement Unit at (615) 253-4394 (local) or 1-800-838-6911 (toll free), for assistance. * If you are calling from a cell phone and have free long distance, please call the local number instead of the toll free number.

The Custodial Parent and Non-Custodial Parent will need their case number or member ID, and their own social security number to access the information.

Monthly Notice of Collections

A Monthly Notice of Collections is available on-line for one month only.  This information is available on-line for the custodial parent through the Child Support Payment System at https://apps. tn.gov/tcses/  If the custodial parent is unable to print a copy for their records, they may contact the Child Support Disbursement Unit at (615) 253-4394 (local) or 1-800-838-6911 (toll free), for assistance.  * If you are calling from a cell phone and have free long distance, please call the local number instead of the toll free number.

The Custodial Parent will need their case number or member ID, and their social security number to access the information.

4 practical tips if your marriage is on the verge of a divorce maximum amount of alimony after divorce.

Alexandra EGOROVA

Disputes over child support is one of the most painful topics during divorce, which is not easy to go through. To keep a cool head when the family is collapsing, it is possible, frankly, few. Mutual accusations, curses, and often threats are used. Discussing money matters in such a situation is very problematic. To pull ourselves together and calm down, let's try to act on the points. There are a lot of myths about alimony among the people - but here's how you really need to act.

1. Try to negotiate with your ex-spouse

Yes, it is difficult, and sometimes very difficult. But this is the first step in the list of actions that will help you get more alimony in a divorce. As you know, according to the court, the approximate amount of alimony is calculated as follows: 25% of the spouse's salary for the maintenance of one child; 33% for two and 50% goes to alimony for three or more children (by the way, this formula has remained unchanged since 1936, when it was established).

Before submitting an application, try to sit down with your ex-husband at the negotiating table - perhaps in the end you will still be able to find a common language, and the amount of payments will exceed these notorious 25 percent (at the same time, according to the court, it can be reduced in a number cases). And don't just rely on words. The ex-husband swears that he will not leave an heir - excellent, go to the notary's office and conclude an agreement in which the amount of payments will be prescribed. If suddenly your story does not have a good ending, go to court with this document.

2. Do not give in to blackmail

Unfortunately, it also happens: a husband begins to blackmail a woman in the truest sense of the word. Like, agree to what I propose, and if you swing your rights, I’ll bring a certificate from work that I work as a janitor and receive a “minimum wage”, even if they calculate your alimony from it. This is not worth leading. Firstly, when assigning alimony, it is the total income (salary, fees, additional remuneration, earnings, etc.) that is taken into account, and not the official salary for the position. True, the presence of "gray" profit from a negligent spouse will have to be proved in court. How to do it? You can, for example, try to imagine the purchases he paid for recently, which could not be purchased with the declared "beggarly" salary. Arm yourself with evidence that your ex-spouse maintains a fairly high standard of living. In addition, do not forget that you can also collect alimony from property - apartments (if this is not the only housing), cars, etc.

3. Deal with income

And if there is no talk of intentional concealment of salary, but also a fixed monthly income, from which those same 25% could be written off, does the father of the child not have? Maybe he's a creative freelancer and lives on royalties from occasional projects that come and go. Then you should think about alimony in the form of a fixed amount. It is set regardless of the level of income (which in this case cannot be precisely determined), in proportion to the subsistence minimum in the country or region. There is also a minus - alimony can be very small, because, according to the law, it is necessary that the defendant himself should not be left without a livelihood. But you can prove in court that in marriage the father spent significant amounts on the child - for example, he paid for a private school. This will give grounds to demand more significant payments, only, of course, all expenses must be documented.

4. Learn your rights

A parent's financial contribution to a child's life is not limited to alimony once a month. For example, in the Family Code (Article 86) there is such a thing as “additional expenses for the maintenance of a child” - these are funds that are paid ABOVE child support. They can be demanded in an emergency - for example, if money is needed for serious treatment or the necessary rehabilitation of a disabled child. However, sometimes even utility payments for housing, the owner or one of the owners of which is a child (the latter is important), act as "additional costs". Everything here will depend on how competently the rationale is drawn up - why the actual alimony for the "communal" is not enough and in what amount more payments are needed.

You can also increase the amount of support already determined and paid. According to the law, this is theoretically possible in the event of a sharp decrease in the income of the parent with whom the child lives after a divorce (for example, the mother was fired from work), or, conversely, a serious increase in the income of the payer. But, again, you will have to substantiate your financial claims very competently. And also, alimony assigned in a fixed amount (not as a percentage of income) is subject to indexation - if its procedure is not established by the agreement concluded by the spouses, then it is carried out in proportion to the increase in the subsistence minimum.

Another important point is that alimony can also be demanded for an adopted child (art. 137 of the Family Code). The procedure for their determination and recovery will be exactly the same as in the case of native children.

STAY INFORMED!

How to apply for child support

If you can't agree on child support, you need to apply to the Magistrate's Court. What documents will be needed:

  • statement of claim;
  • child's birth certificate;
  • marriage and divorce certificate;
  • copy of passport;
  • certificate of family composition from the housing office at the place of residence of the evading parent;
  • photocopies of all documents, including the application.

If it is difficult to accurately determine the father's income, along with the application, you must provide an estimate of the funds that, in your opinion, will be required for the maintenance of the child and documentary justification for these expenses.

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    what to do, what to do, if the ex-husband does not pay alimony

    In fact, evading the payment of alimony may well entail criminal liability (the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to a year), if the debt is very high. As for the administration, it is possible to seize bank accounts or property of a defaulter, deprive him of his driver's license. In addition, the violator of the law may be restricted from traveling abroad. For late payments, a fine is also provided - 1/2% of the amount of debt for each day of delay.

    And, by the way, such obligations do not have a statute of limitations - that is, you can demand money from the father of your child for his maintenance, even if the father appears ten years after the divorce (provided that you received a court order to collect alimony, when your common son or daughter was a minor).

    But what to do if you have a court decision, but dad still refuses to pay? In this case, we go to the bailiff service with a statement about the need to start enforcement proceedings. Further, the bailiff can launch the measures mentioned above: arrest of accounts, travel restrictions, etc. It is important for the plaintiff himself not to yawn here - you need to constantly be in touch with the bailiff in charge of your case, provide additional information about the debtor's sources of income, if you have any. Nothing helps? Then it makes sense to re-apply to the court, you can demand the recovery of a penalty for alimony.

    BY THE WAY

    It doesn't matter whether you lived with the child's father in a formal marriage or for all the years of living together you never reached the registry office. It does not matter at all - according to the Family Code (Article 80), parents are obliged to support their minor children. The reverse situation is that in order to file for alimony, it is not at all necessary to be divorced. If a husband, for example, spends a significant part of his income on some "hobbies" (conditionally, he regularly loses in a casino), and the child gets a penny, you can demand payment in court.

    Comments for the site Cackl e

    How to collect child support from a working debtor? - Lawyer in Samara and Moscow

    Legislation provides for a different procedure for paying and calculating child support.

    1. On the payment of alimony by a parent on a voluntary basis

    cash desks. The amount of alimony and the terms of payment are determined and indicated in the application by the parent paying the alimony. The administration will transfer alimony to the specified details or issue them when calculating wages. The payment of alimony in this manner does not apply to cases of deductions from wages for the purposes of labor legislation (clause 1, article 80 of the IC of the Russian Federation; article 137 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation).

    2. On the payment of alimony on the basis of a notarial agreement

    The amount of alimony is determined by agreement of the parties, however, it cannot be less than what would be relied on a child when collecting alimony in court (clause 1, article 80, art. Articles 99, 103 of the RF IC). The agreement may provide for a different procedure for the payment of alimony: as a percentage of earnings, in a fixed amount of money paid at a time or periodically, etc.

    on the basis of this agreement in accordance with the stipulated conditions for the timing and amount of payments (Article 109RF SC). Their size is calculated on the basis of wages and income (except for payments from which alimony is not withheld) minus tax payments. The types of income from which alimony for minor children is paid are defined in the List, approved. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 18, 1996 N 841. Withholding by agreement cannot exceed 70% of earnings (Article 110 of the RF IC; Article 138 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation). The administration pays or transfers alimony to the beneficiary's account no later than within 3 days from the date of payment of wages to the alimony payer. The costs of paying alimony (for example, a bank commission or a postal order fee) are borne by their payer.

    Such an agreement has the force of an executive document, and if the parent does not want to pay alimony voluntarily under a notary agreement, they can be collected forcibly through the bailiff service (clause 3, part 1, article 12, article 30 of the Law of 02. 10.2007 N 229-FZ).

    The bailiff will calculate the debt for the payment of alimony.

    Alimony arrears for the past period can be collected on the basis of an agreement on the payment of alimony within the three-year period preceding the presentation for collection.

    If non-payment of alimony was due to the fault of the debtor parent, they can be calculated for the entire past period.

    The bailiff calculates the debt based on the terms of the agreement on the payment of alimony and earnings and other income of the person obliged to pay alimony, for the period during which the alimony was not collected (Article 113 of the RF IC).

    In case of non-payment of alimony voluntarily and the absence of a notarized agreement on the payment of alimony, alimony can be collected in court.

    3. About recovery of maintenance from a parent in court

    There are two ways to collect maintenance in court: on the basis of an application for a court order or filing a claim for the recovery of alimony.

    Issuance of a court order is a simplified procedure for the collection of alimony. The judge issues a court order within five days from the date of receipt of the application without a trial, summoning the debtor and the recoverer and hearing their explanations (Article 126 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation).

    The judge sends a copy of the court order to the debtor, who, within ten days from the date of receipt of the order, has the right to file objections regarding its execution (Article 128 of the Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation).

    The judge cancels the court order if the debtor raises objections regarding its execution within the prescribed period. If no objections are received from the debtor within the prescribed period, the judge issues the second copy of the court order to the recoverer to present it for execution or, at the request of the recoverer, sends it to the bailiff for execution (Article 129, 130 Code of Civil Procedure of the Russian Federation).

    A court order cannot be issued in the case of an application for the payment of alimony in a fixed amount of money (clause 11 of the Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of October 25, 1996 N 9).

    As a general rule, alimony will be assigned from the moment of applying to the court. In rare cases, if payment evasion is proven, they can be recovered for the past period, but not more than three years (clause 2, article 107 of the RF IC).

    Alimony is assigned as a fixed amount or as a percentage of the parent's income.

    Assignment of alimony as a percentage of the parent's income

    If the parent has one job and a permanent income, then alimony can be assigned as a percentage of income - for one child in the amount of one quarter, for two children - one third , for three or more children - half of the earnings and (or) other income of the parent (Article 81 of the RF IC). The court may increase or decrease the size of these shares depending on the financial or marital status of the parties and other circumstances of the case (for example, the disability of family members to whom the party is obliged by law to provide maintenance, the onset of disability or the presence of a disease that prevents the continuation of the previous work, the child's admission to work or engaging in entrepreneurial activity).

    Assignment of alimony in a fixed amount of money

    Alimony in a fixed amount of money is assigned if there is no agreement between the parents on the payment of alimony and the parent does not have a permanent income, or if there are several sources of income, or if the income is unstable, or if this parent receives earnings and (or) other income in whole or in part in kind or in foreign currency, and in other cases when it is impossible to collect alimony in percentage terms (Article 83 of the RF IC).

    A fixed amount of maintenance is also determined taking into account the financial and marital status of the parties and other circumstances worthy of attention in order to maintain the child's previous level of support. Alimony must be set in a fixed amount of money corresponding to a certain number of minimum wages for further indexation (clause 2 of article 117 of the RF IC).

    You can collect alimony in a fixed amount of money, for example, if the alimony payer hides his income.

    Employer withholds child support based on a court order or court order in the same way as a child support agreement. If a court order or court decision is not executed voluntarily, then their enforcement through the bailiff service is possible. The bailiff will calculate the debt on the basis of a court order or decision in the manner indicated above.

    Remember, at any stage of a family dispute, Anatoly Antonov's Family Law Center is ready to provide you with legal support. Call us by phone in Samara + 7 (846) 212-99-71 right now and sign up for a consultation at a convenient time for you.

    Legal Center for Family Affairs of Attorney Anatoly Antonov provides the following legal services regarding the payment of alimony for minor children, as well as other family members: