Undistributed Child Support Payments
- Author: Jessica Williams
- Posted: 2023-10-22
Why Does This Money Go Unclaimed?
There are several reasons that child support does not get dispersed to the rightful owner. Human error is one reason. Sometimes, a child support check is mailed to the wrong address or deposited into the wrong account. Negligence is another reason. Often, the parent to whom the money is owed moves and does not update his address with the state's child support enforcement office. Payments also go unclaimed when the state cannot locate someone who overpaid a child support payment.
How Much Child Support Goes Unclaimed?
The exact amount of unclaimed child support is impossible to determine. Collectively, states have received approximately $100 billion on behalf of parents who are entitled to child support. Estimates show that out of the approximate $100 billion in child support collections, $750 million of this money consists of checks that are not cashed and money that is not claimed.
What Does the State Do With Undistributed Child Support?
Per federal legislation, every state must enact and enforce rules that determine how undistributed child support is handled when payees do not claim their money. The majority of states use unclaimed child support to cover various administrative costs or put toward the states' budgets. Due to the limited time parents have to collect undistributed child support, the sooner these parents begin the collection process, the more likely they will be able to receive their money.
How Can People Search for Undistributed Child Support Payments?
Even parents who are currently receiving child support should search for undistributed child support payments on behalf of their children. The child support search process is not uniform among states. Some states post regularly updated lists of the people who are owed unclaimed child support payments. Other states have databases on their child support enforcement or treasury's website that are either solely dedicated to undistributed child support or include all types of unclaimed property. In addition, some county courts have an online child support search database.
What Information Is Needed to Conduct a Search?
Every child support enforcement office, county court and treasury department requires different information to conduct a search. For instance, a county court's website may allow people to search by name or by case year and case number while a state department of revenue's website only requires the payee's name and city. On the other hand, a child support enforcement office's website may ask for the payee's first name, last name and child support case number or the last four digits of the payee's social security number.
What Should a Parent Do If He Locates Unclaimed Payments?
In the event that a person finds his name on a list or in a database of undistributed child support payments, he must follow the specific agency's steps to claim the funds. Virtually every agency and court requires the payee to fill out a claims request form. Usually, this form can be printed directly from the agency or court's website; however, some states will only send this form through postal mail after the payee fills out a form request online. Once the payee completes the form, he must get it notarized.
The payee must also provide the agency with documents that support his undistributed child support payment claim, such as a divorce decree or child support court order. Most state agencies and county courts only accept claims forms and supporting documents in person or via postal mail; some courts accept copies by fax. Once the claim is approved, the payee will receive a check in the mail. In some instances, the payee can opt for direct deposit instead of a paper check.