What is Child Support And When Does It Occur In Indiana?

In Indiana, child support arrangements typically follow the dissolution of marriage, separation, or divorce. Child support is the legal responsibility to provide the finances to care for a child produced in a relationship after the union ends. The parent who is to take care of the child after the child custody case receives the child support payment.

To enforce child support law, the Indiana Child Support Operations are available in every county in association with the Child Support Bureau of the Indiana Department of Child Services. This department handles other support services as well. Child support processes are generally done in accordance with the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines.

Records that are considered public may also be accessible from some third-party websites. Aggregate sites are generally a convenient alternative for inquirers searching for multiple records across several US districts. To search these databases, however, users are typically expected to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state in which the person resides or was accused

Third-party sites are operated independently of government sources. Consequently, the validity and accuracy of the information provided by these sites may not be guaranteed.

What is Indiana Child Support?

Child support in Indiana is a mandatory financial contribution a non-custodial parent is expected to make to aid a child’s growth after separation or divorce. The court follows the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines to determine the amount of child support. However, the payment plan is according to the parents’ income. Nevertheless, when a child turns 19, child support is automatically terminated, except if the child is disabled, and the court order will see to the continuance of child support.

What Does Child Support Cover in Indiana?

Child support is dependent on the income of parents and which parent has custody. Payments are generally made for a child’s essential needs such as health care, education, dental appointments, transportation, food, shelter, and clothing. However, the Indiana child support system does not typically cover extracurricular activities like camping, sports, and others, but the parents may compromise upon mutual agreement.

What is the Average Child Support Payment in Indiana?

Child support payment in Indiana follows the regulations provided for its operations. That said, the average amount for child support primarily depends on the gross weekly income, which includes all rental income, wages, bonuses, commissions, and any other means of income the non-custodial parent has and is verified by the court.

There is no stipulated amount because of the different incomes of parents and the number of children involved. Parents and interested individuals may calculate an average by utilizing the official Indiana child support calculator, which estimates weekly child support payments and constructs forms that could be helpful in court.

How Do I Apply for Child Support in Indiana?

Interested individuals may apply for child support online or in person. In-person applications generally require that the requestors fill out a child support enrollment form, articulate the necessary information for the county child support office, and contact the county prosecutor’s office via mail or visit in person.

Before applying for child support in Indiana, the Indiana Department of Child Services should have certified the paternity of the child, recognized the non-custodial parent, and determined the amount to be paid for child custody before establishing a child support order. This order may only be granted by the Supreme Court because it spells out the instructions that bind child support and also sheds more light on educational expenses and visitation. Filing for child support in Indiana is $25, and the following documents typically need to be presented before processing a child support order;

• Valid photo identification, such as a driver’s license.
• Proof of residency. Either a utility bill or a rent payment receipt.
• Divorce records.
• Paternity test records.
• The birth certificates of the child(ren).
• Information about the location of the other parent.
• Prior child support payment history, if available.
• Information about wages.
• Description of property.

Interested persons may find local child support offices on the service portal created in this regard.

How Do I Get Out of Paying Child Support in Indiana?

Child support orders may not be contested in Indiana since the court, in tandem with the Department of Child Services, before giving the order have established paternity and both parents are legally divorced. Nevertheless, the state has provided for modification, which should be filed at the court where the original order was issued. A child support order may be modified if:

• The circumstances surrounding income and other factors have changed
• There is a permanent disability of the said parent
• A party has been required to pay more than twenty percent of the amount stipulated by the child support guidelines
• There are new children born to either parent.

All under Article 16, Title 31 of the Indiana codes.

What is Back Child Support in Indiana?

Back child support payments are missed child support payments, which are a violation of the court-issued child support order. Indiana charges interest for missed payments if the amount is determined in court; this may come to around 8% per annum.

How Do I Get Back Child Support Paid in Indiana?

To enforce back child support payments, Indiana Code Title 35, Article 46 states that any individual who intentionally fails to obey a child support order has committed a class C felony if the unpaid support amount exceeds $15,000. Also, the state, in a bid to enforce payment, may employ these different strategies to ensure compliance.

• Suspension of driver’s license.
• Restrictions on purchasing or selling a new automobile.
• Intercepting the non-custodial party’s tax.
• Obtaining an income withholding order from the child support division to get child support payments.
• A charge for contempt of court.
• Restricting interstate movement.

Is there an Indiana Statute of Limitations on Child Support?

Yes, there is a statute of limitations on child support in Indiana. The Indiana code title 34 article 11 provides that an action to enforce a child support order should have begun at least 10 years before the child turns 18. Also, a child support order typically expires automatically 20 years from the date of issuance.