How long will it take for me to get my first child support check?
Estimated time⎯one to two months after the judge signs the order. This is how it works: after your hearing, the orders are forwarded to the judge for signature, unless exceptions are filed. After the orders are signed, an Earnings Withholding Order (EWO) may be sent by certified mail to the employer. Once the employer receives the EWO, they must begin withholding from the next paycheck. The parent ordered to pay child support is Frequently Asked responsible for payment from the date the court determines payments are to begin, regardless of whether an EWO has been issued. Other Resources Questions about
If the other parent does not pay We have joint custody of the Local Child Support Enforcement Office Child Support the child support owed, do I have children. Why do I have to pay www.dhr.state.md.us/csea/local.htm to let him or her visit the child support? Pro Se Assistance Project (assistance children? OR, If I do not see my for the unrepresented) www.courts.state.md.us/family kids—do I still have to pay It is important that both parents contribute support? to the raising of their children, even in Family Law Hotline 800-845-8550 joint custody cases. The amount of child Legal Forms Helpline 800-818-9888 support charged to each parent depends Child support and visitation are not related Domestic Relations Forms and Instructions upon the amount of time each parent to each other. If a parent does not pay www.courts.state.md.us/family spends with the child, as well as each child support the other parent must People's Law Library parent’s income and the expense of raising continue to follow any visitation order www.peoples-law.com the child. issued by the court.
A publication of the Maryland Judiciary. Provided Can I waive child support by support of the Child Support Incentive Funds payments if I want nothing to Committee, the Conference of Circuit Court Clerks do with the child's other and the Court Information Office. parent? For additional copies, contact the Department of Family Administration, Admin. Office of the Courts, No. Under Maryland law, the right to 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401 receive child support is a right that belongs 410-260-1580. to a child. The custodial parent cannot waive child support owed to the child. Maryland
10/04 FAMCS1 Judiciary Do I need to hire an attorney What if my child’s father for a child support matter? (or mother) does not follow the court order to pay Although you are not required to have an child support? attorney represent you, it is often I can't afford to pay the filing fee. advisable. You may apply for assistance If the other parent does not comply with a What should I do? from the local support enforcement court order, you may ask the court to find office. For a small one-time fee, they will the other person in contempt of court. If you cannot afford to pay the fee, you may assist you in obtaining or enforcing a Once the court issues a ruling finding them request that the court waive the requirement child support order. in contempt, the court can take a number that you pay the filing fee up front. If the of actions to encourage their compliance, court grants the waiver, then you can ask the Can I get child support if That office's attorney will file the including incarceration. court⎯either at a hearing or through a the non-custodial parent is necessary papers and appear at court motion⎯to waive the fee altogether or order in jail? hearings. Although their attorney will not Your lawyer or the local child support the other person to pay it. represent you directly, they represent the enforcement office can file the appropriate Unless he/she has assets, like property interests of the local enforcement office, papers asking that they be found in To request the prepayment waiver, file a or income from an outside source or which are normally the same or very contempt. If you represent yourself, you Motion for Waiver of Prepayment of Court from work-release, it is unlikely that similar to your interests. can use forms available at Cost, DR32. The form is available at support can be collected from an www.courts.state.md.us/family/forms/ You should probably seek assistance of www.courts.state.md.us/family/forms/ incarcerated parent. In some cases, childsupport.html . Forms are also available the local enforcement office or hire your dr32.pdf or at the Pro Se Assistance Project at the incarcerated parent will request through the Pro Se Assistance Project at own attorney if: your local circuit court. that support be reduced or suspended your local circuit court. until he/she is released. the case is contested; the other side has a lawyer; What happens if the you cannot locate the other parent to serve him or her with your papers or non-custodial parent can't be the father is not willing to admit that found to be served? the child is his
Once your complaint/petition is filed, you You should hire your own attorney if you (or the local child support enforcement have contested issues other than child office) have 120 days to serve the papers. support that need to be resolved such as If the parent cannot be located in that time, custody, visitation, divorce, alimony, the complaint/petition may be dismissed. marital property or domestic violence.