Keesha Hughes
10/07/08
R. Rivera

Child Support the Negative and Positive Effects

Child support is defined as a payment that a non custodial parent makes as a contribution to the costs of raising her or his child. “In the mid 1990’s, child support became a topic of urgent U.S. national discussion. The system that awards child support was declared inadequate by state and federal policy makers.” Most children who live in a single-parent family environment have the right to receive child support. A single parent can apply for child support either voluntary or mandated by a court order. Pg1.
Determining awards are support awards made by each states family court system. Most states require that it be based on the best interest of the child’s needs. Child support historically was a state controlled issue; most states had established their own guidelines in the quest for fair standards. Fifteen states are part in the “percentage of income” guideline. This guideline is based on the income of the noncustodial parent. Thirty states use the “income-shares” method.
This method is based on both parents income.
Several states use the Melson formula; this provides a basic subsistence level for each parent before determining the primary support needs of the child/children. When guidelines are used, the judges consider the guidelines for considerations like how property is divided, whether an arrearage exits, and disparities in parents’ incomes. Other adhere to the Uniform Parentage Act, this states that “courts must take into consideration of other options, the age of the child, the financial resources, the earning ability of the child, and the value of services contributed by the custodian parent”. A putative income is used to calculate support and used in many states if it is suspected that the noncustodial parent is deliberately underemployed or unemployed. Unless the state mandates, child support to be awarded, the court can deny it.
Consequences for nonpayment, is that the delinquent obligor may face contempt- of-court charges and civil penalties. Criminal sanctions can include jail; or even a fine, these punishments are sparingly used and for repeat violations. Enforcement is a major barrier to timely and regular collection and a large volume of child support orders that states are required to enforce monthly. One response has been to divert cases from the court system by empowering state agencies to enforce child support orders. A primary means of collecting is wage withholding, requiring the employer of the obligor send a percentage of the paycheck to the state or county for the custodial parent for supporting that child.
The significance of child support is that it provides a mechanism for non-resident parents to contribute to the financial and medical support of their children. The goals of the system is to promote family self-sufficiency and child well being. Custodial parents who receive steady child support are more likely to find work quicker and maintain employment longer. For poor families it’s the largest source of income with a parent who receives a low income from a job. Research shows that regular child support payments have a positive effect on children’s academic.
Fathers who pay more child support are more financially and emotionally involved with their children.
When we view government data that 6.2 million single