questions & answers

Question: I have been to court already about my children and was ordered not to pay child support. The father of my children filed for cash assistance and now DES says that i owe $8000 in back child support and he will be receiving $400 a month from me. is that even possible for DES to go over the final court decision?

Answer: DES cannot "go over a court decision," but child support decrees are rarely "final" - mostly because the parents' financial circumstances change so often during the 18 years before a child becomes an adult. And the law permits interested parties to petition for modification of child support if there has been a substantial and continuing change in those circumstances. In addition to ensuring that both the court and DES have valid contact information for you, you may want to consult with an attorney who focuses on child support issues. Not every family law attorney does, so ask the question up front. Also, remember that DES may have already petitioned for modification of support in the past.