The Child Support office has miscalculated my payments; now they claim I have an arrears! What do I do?

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The Child Support office has miscalculated my payments; now they claim I have an arrears! What do I do?

May 14, 2012, 08:25:00 AM

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The Child Support office has miscalculated my payments; now they claim I have an arrears! What do I do?

It is, unfortunately, not uncommon for Support Enforcement Offices to miscalculate support payments. The bookkeeping practices they perform are often done improperly. 

Read this article if a State (or privately-administered collection company) incorrectly claims you have child support arrears, or claims an erroneously inflated arrears amount: Challenging Erroneous Arrears Claims.

Articles in « Support Questions »

• I'm new to all this...where do I start?
• Where can I find information about my State's child support laws and guidelines?
• What determines how much child support I have to pay?
• Will my overtime be included in child support calculations?
• My child support is more than 50% of my take-home pay- is this legal?
• My ex isn't spending the child support on the kids. Can I make him/her account for how the support money is spent?
• I can't get by on what's left of my paycheck. How can I get my child support lowered?
• The Child Support office has miscalculated my payments; now they claim I have an arrears! What do I do?
• How can I prevent unjust seizure of my Income Tax refund check?
• Can my ex make me pay for a private school for our child?
• Can my ex make me pay for our child's college education? Would he/she have to pay as well?
• My employer garnished my paycheck but hasn't sent the money to the Child Support Office. Is there anything I can do?
• Can I make my support payments directly to my ex? Should I?
• How can I keep track of support payments?
• Are they allowed include my new spouse's income when setting child support?
• I'm agreeing to waive cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in my child support settlement. If later on I change my mind, can I get those back?
• How do I get my child support increased?
• My ex has a live in boyfriend/girlfriend who is helping out with expenses. Can I get my support lowered because of this?
• How can I get support when I can't even locate my ex?
• My ex never told me I had a child, and concealed the fact for over a decade. Will this be taken into account when they set my support amount?
• My ex is asking for alimony. What are the chances it'll be awarded?
• Can clothing costs be considered as Child Support? My ex owed $250.00 on back support and he/she spent $250.00 on clothing for the kids instead of giving me the money.
• Can child support be reduced if you remarry and have more children by your new wife?
• Is there a minimum child support amount in my State that my ex should have to pay, whether or not they're working?
• During my divorce, a child support amount was set. Later, I moved out of State. My ex wants more money now. Can the Child Support Office cross State lines and make me pay more?
• How is a support order established if paternity hasn't been determined and no documents have been signed by me?
• I was laid-off, and my unemployment benefits are nowhere near what I used to make. Can I get my child support postponed or lowered? How do I keep my job loss from counting as a strike against me?
• If I get joint custody, will I still have to pay child support?
• If a father terminates his parental rights does he still have to pay child support?
• Is it necessary to legally terminate child support at age 18, or does it happen automatically?
• At what age is child support terminated for a handicapped child who is unable to be gainfully employed?
• My ex owns his own business, I know this means he can show whatever he wants for income. How can I be sure he is providing correct information?
• How long should I keep the receipts showing the child support I've paid?
• The ex-wife has moved to several different states without notifying the court or the father, and her whereabouts are unknown. The child is now is foster care. Will he have to pay the back support?
• Do I pay my wife directly for child support?
• I spend 3 days in a week plus a full day (24 hr) every other week w/ my kids, plus 50% of their holidays. I have joint custody but pay full support. Can I lower my child support?
• Can child support be granted even after adopted children are receiving subsidies from the state that exceed their child support requirements?
• I'm the non-custodial parent. Is it my responsiblity to obtain a babysitter or pay daycare during the week when I have them? Isn't that why I pay child support?
• If my new spouse were to win the lottery, could my ex be able to obtain some of that money for child support? Could the ex-spouse legally touch any of it, because it increases my household income?
• My ex wants to bring me to court for support she did not receive when I was out of work with no unemployment benefits. Do I owe her that even though I wasn't receiving any income?
• How often can a non-custodial parent be taken back for modification if the payee gets wind that the payor is making more money?
• My 18yr old recently quit high school. She says she is going back next year. Am I still obligated to pay child support while she makes up her mind?
• What does the term "combined income" refer to in figuring child support?
• My ex wants me to share 1/2 of school expenses, clothes, shoes, supplies, etc. Isn't that what child support is for?
• My ex would like to negotiate a lump sum payment for child support. Would this hold up in court if either of our incomes increased significantly?
• My ex is applying for loan, and insists she needs proof that I'm paying child support. Do I have to provide her with proof?
• My ex moved away without letting me know where she moved to. Do I still owe her support?