Child-support payments criteria called outdated

[POC]

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Child-support payments criteria called outdated
State-sponsored panel urges revision of law

By SAM SKOLNIK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

A committee gathered by the Department of Social and Health Services has concluded that the criteria judges use to determine child support payments are outdated and need to be revised by the Legislature.

The 31-page report on child support guidelines was issued earlier this month by a panel of 22 community members from social services and law enforcement.

The document includes several recommendations regarding the standards used to determine child support payments.

But the most important recommendation in the panel's report, according to a DSHS spokesman, was that the Legislature change the law to make sure that the child support schedule be reviewed at least every four years.

Child support payments are determined by tabulating each parent's income; the number, ages and health of the children in question; and sometimes also by the relevant visitation arrangements.

A judge decrees the final monthly payment.

The standards used to determine child support payments need to be updated "to make sure the basic needs of the children are met," said David Stillman, director of the DSHS Division of Child Support.

The panel also recommended that the child support schedule be revised to make sure that judges consider children from earlier marriages when determining what parents owe in child support.

The Legislature can choose to adopt or reject each of the report's recommendations, said DSHS spokesman Adolfo Capestany.

Gov. Christine Gregoire asked the DSHS Division of Child Support in March to assemble the panel.

P-I reporter Sam Skolnik can be reached at 206-448-8334 or [email protected].


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/255724_childsupport14.html