Connecticut Child Support

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If a person desires to open a child support case, it can be done using the following methods.

• Filing directly in the Superior Court. Usually, if the person has a private lawyer, then he/she prefers this method
• Calling the local Department of Social Services (DSS) Bureau of Child Support Enforcement Office

If a person wishes to modify an existing child support order, the following 2 ways exist.

• Appealing in the Superior Court, if the case was initially filed directly in this court
• If the case was initially filed via DSS, then by calling the Support Enforcement Services Child Support Call Center of the Judicial Branch

'IV-D' is read as 'four-D'. This is a Child Support Enforcement Program that is administered by the government. This name is derived from Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. In Connecticut, a case is regarded to be IV-D if the following situations exist.

• The application for service was filed with any one of the following
  • The Support Enforcement Unit
  • The Department of Social Services
• The family has received public assistance benefits

• Offering services of payment processing
• Confirming that the support orders are appropriate and reviewing and adjusting them
• Enforcing child support orders
• Establishing medical and financial support orders
• Establishing paternity
• Locating a non custodial parent

Let us assume that the parents have applied for IV-D services. Then, there are 3 methods that the Support Enforcement Unit can use to enforce the child support order.

Suspension of License

The non custodial parent's recreational, occupational, professional and driver's license can be suspended after thirty days have passed since this parent has failed to abide by the court order.

Contempt

The court may find out if the non custodial parent has intentionally not adhered to the court order. Such a parent is in contempt and may be asked to disburse a lump sum amount of money. Alternatively, this parent can be imprisoned till a particular amount of money is paid.

Income Withholding

The court might issue orders that money may be subtracted from the non custodial parent's income. The term 'income' refers to the following.

• Wages
• Retirement benefits
• Unemployment compensation
• Worker's compensation
• Overtime pay

When a parent files for alteration of this order, the 4 points below mentioned must be kept in mind.

• The parent may hire a lawyer who would file a motion to alter the order and represent the parent in the court
• The parent may file a motion to alter the order and represent self in court. This is termed as 'pro se' representation
• The parent must compulsorily attend the court hearing. If this step is not taken, the judge will not modify the order
• In case the parent has applied for IV-D services, this parent can request the Support Enforcement Services Unit to evaluate the order and conclude whether a modification is essential. This Unit assesses if there is a 'considerable deviation' from the Connecticut Child Support and Arrearage Guidelines in the existing order (i.e. it is verified if the present order is 15 percent different from the Guidelines). If yes, the Unit files a motion asking for a modification. However, the Unit does not represent either parent at modification hearings

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