questions & answers

Question: My ex is supposed to pay court ordered child support and has not done so for a little over 19 months. Am I supposed to file paperwork to have it on the record, or does the state automatically know that he owes me back child support? I don't even know if he is working currently.

Answer:

In the event that a Child Support Order is not being followed, filing an enforcement action may be necessary to correct the problem. You may want to review the article on this site about Child Support in Arizona. That article states: State law requires that child support be paid before other debts are paid. However, if a payor fails to make court-ordered child support payments, the payee can consult with an attorney regarding filing an enforcement action.

If you decide to consult with an attorney to begin a child support enforcement action, you may want to review the article on this site about "Where to Find an Attorney for Specific Legal Advice." In some counties, a Self-Service center is available for parties who wish to represent themselves in court or you may contact the Child Support Enforcement Agency to request help collecting child support payments.