What is Child Support and When does it Occur in Indiana?

In Indiana, child support arrangements follow the event of dissolution of marriage, separation, or divorce. Child support is the legal responsibility to provide the finances to cater for a child produced in a relationship after the union does not exist anymore. The parent who is to take care of the child after the child custody case receives the child support payment.

In order to enforce child support law, The Indiana Child Support Operations are available in every county, which is 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 be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching more straightforward, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party websites may vary.

What is Indiana Child Support?

Child support in Indiana is a mandatory financial contribution a non-custodial parent has 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 for child support. However, the payment plan is according to the parent’s income. Nevertheless, when a child turns 19, child support is automatically terminated except 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. The payment is 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 cover extracurricular activities like camping, sports, and the likes, but the parent can 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 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 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 can calculate an average by utilizing the official Indiana child support calculator as it estimates weekly child support payments and constructs forms that could be helpful in the court of law.

How Do I Apply for Child Support in Indiana?

Interested individuals may apply for child support online or in person. Applications in person mandate that the requestors fill out a child support enrollment form, articulate the necessary information required at the county child support office, contact the county prosecutor’s office via mail or visit in person.

Before applying for child support in Indiana, the Indiana Department of Child Service must 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 can 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 must 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 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 can 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 cannot 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 is required to be filed at the court where the original order was issued. A child support order can modified if;

• The circumstances surrounding income and other factors have changed
• There is the permanent disability of the said parent
• A party has been required to pay more than twenty percent of the amount stipulated by 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 is missed child support payments which is a violation of the child support order issued by the court. When a child support payment is missed, the state of Indiana charges interest if the amount is determined in court. The interests are 8% per annum.

How Do I Get Back Child Support Paid in Indiana?

For the enforcement of back child support payment, The Indiana code title 35 article 46 states that any individual who intentionally fails to obey child support order has committed a class C felony if the unpaid support amount runs into $15,000. Also, the state in a bid to enforce payment can employ these different strategies to ensure compliance.

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

Is there a Indiana Statutes of Limitation on Child Support?

Yes, there are statutes of limitation on child support in Indiana. The Indiana code title 34 article 11 provides that an action to enforce a child support order must have begun before 10years before the child clocks 18 also, a child support order expires automatically 20years from the date of issuance.