Understanding
Kentucky Child Support Laws

Every child has a legal right to financial support from both parents. Serving the community since 1975 child support has been serving children to help them get the child support and benefits they deserve and need. They offer many different programs. Some of these programs are establishing paternity, locating non-custodial parents, Establishing and enforcing support orders, establishing medical support orders, Collecting current and past due support payments

Applying for services

Child support enforcement services are automatically provided to current and former parents who receive public assistance. If you are not receiving public assistance you can apply for child support enforcement services by completing an application for services. You must contact the child support office in your county of residence to request an application.

What information is needed to receive child support services?

• Non-Custodial Parent’s Address
• Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• Employer
• Bank Account Numbers
• State and Federal Tax Returns
• Birth Certificates

Certified copies of any divorce decrees, court orders addressing custody and child support, and payment records must be provided as well.

Establishing Paternity

Paternity means fatherhood. Fatherhood is the legal responsibility to support a child. Paternity establishment refers to the legal determination of being named as a child's father. By establishing paternity, the father is providing the child with certain rights and privileges. These privileges are important because the child has the right to know who their biological father is. Both parents have the right to know and to contribute to the success of their child’s future. Even when a father and mother are unmarried, they both must support their child until the child becomes an adult. Both parents are required by law to support their child. Your local child support agency can help to establish paternity.

Kentucky law protects both parents’ rights. Either parent may take back the acknowledgment within 60 days. The court may also void the voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.

Modification

Kentucky Child Support Enforcement Agency has what is called The Cabinet for Health and Family Services. What this service does is review and adjusts a parent’s support obligation when there is an court ordered child support assignment or when either parent requests a review for modification. Using the Child Support Guidelines you must have at least a 15 percent increase or decrease in your current financial situation. A review of the order may cause medical support, for the child to be added to the order. Once the review is started, adjustment of the order will be made even if the results do not favor the party who requested the review. If you request a modification you must provide all of the following financial information that applies to your case:

• Your gross monthly salary and other sources of income.
• The amount you or your spouse pays for health insurance for the child.
• The amount you pay for court-ordered spousal support for a former spouse.
• The amount you pay for child support for prior-born (older) child(ren).
• The amount you pay for child care expenses for the child(ren), provided this money is spent to allow the mother or father who has custody to work or attend school.

At any time, either party may choose to use a private attorney to present arguments in his or her best interest.

Enforcement Methods used to collect child support

Federal and state law's allows the Kentucky Child Support Enforcement Agency to deduct from a non-custodial parent’s paycheck. These deductions are taken out every time a non-custodial parent gets their pay check from an employer. The following are enforcement methods used to collect child support payments.

• Liens against real and personal property.
• Seize bank accounts, savings, bonuses; lump sum earnings, etc. intercept state and federal Income tax refunds.
• Take a portion of unemployment compensation or workers’ compensation benefits.
• Intercept lottery winnings.
• Deny, suspend or revoke a driver’s license, professional license or certification, occupational License or certification, recreational license, sporting license or license to carry a concealed deadly weapon.
• Deny, Revoke or Limit Passports.
• Require the parent to post a bond with the court.
• Order the parent’s employer to enroll the parent’s children in a health insurance plan.
• Transfer health insurance coverage for the parent’s children to a new employer if the parent changes jobs.
• File criminal actions against the parent.
• File citations of contempt of court in district or circuit courts when payments are not made.

Contact Information:

Kentucky Child Support Hot Line,
(800) 248-1163, toll-free

Send Child Support Payments to:

Kentucky Child Support Enforcement
P.O. Box 14059
Lexington, KY 40512-4059

Please make payable to: Kentucky Child Support Enforcement Program

Child Support Enforcement Voice Response System(800) 443-1576This system is a Automated access to payment and account information system. This system is available for you 24 hours a day/seven days a week.

Child Support Tax Refund Intercept (800) 446-6041

This phone line is for cases that have been certified for the interception of federal or state income tax refunds.

Private Wage Withholding Cases (877) 706-8508

Information on private wage withholding cases payable through Kentucky's Centralized Collection Unit.

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