Federal Child Support Guidelines

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1. Based upon an independent study, dependent only upon the state in which a parent resides, the non custodial parents child support order could vary by as much as 300\%.

2. Based upon a scenario where a divorced couple has an infant child who requires reasonable day care and health insurance costs, the custodial parent makes $1600 a month, the non custodial parent makes $1600 a month, and the infant spends 138 overnights (38\% of the year) with the non custodial parent, the following 15 states would still require the non custodial parent to pay between $600 and 50\% of his pay check in child support. The following 15 states were evaluated as being the 15 Most Mismanaged States For Child Support: Missouri, Alabama, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington, Virginia, Colorado, and South Dakota.

3. Based upon the same scenario, the following 15 states would require the non custodial parent to pay between $300 and $500 per month in child support. The following 15 states were evaluated as being the 15 Best Managed States For Child Support: New York, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Idaho, California, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Texas, Iowa, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

4. Pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, which was made Law in 1975, Child Support Payments are automatically garnished by the State from the non custodial parents paycheck because the State is paid an incentive by the Federal government for every child support dollar collected. States use these federal matching funds to employ thousands to track down parents, and employ workers and judges at the Child Support Office (also known, in other states, as the Family Court or Domestic Relations). This law creates a monetary reward to States for increasing child support payments (irrespective of the best interest of the child) while creating a financial burden on the tax payer, the Social Security Fund, and, of course, the non custodial parent. States such as the 15 Most Mismanaged States For Child Support (Missouri, Alabama, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington, Virginia, Colorado, and South Dakota) are the most guilty of mismanaging funds and wherefore creating said financial burdens.

5. Garnishment of child support payments directly from paychecks creates the unfair illusion that the non custodial parent makes less money than he actually does, and this can be detrimental to him in being extended credit and especially in obtaining a mortgage. This is unfair because the money the custodial parent spends on the child is not garnished from her paycheck, and therefore she does not have the same problems being extended credit or obtaining a mortgage. In fact, the custodial parent can use child support payments as income, whereby helping her in pursuit of being extended credit or obtaining a mortgage. Non custodial parents ought to be given the option of paying child support voluntarily and with dignity. Child support payments need to no longer be looked at as a tax the state government must seize. Therefore, garnishment should only be used when and if arrears are substantial, and/or the non custodial parent has blatantly refused to pay his child support while he is clearly able to do so.

6. Drivers License and Professional License Suspension does more to hurt the situation than help. If a non custodial parent is in arrears, taking away his means to get to work and/or licenses he needs to continue employment is only going to make him fall further behind. The courts need to not be so quick to suspend such licenses, except in situations where arrears are substantial, and/or the non custodial parent has blatantly refused to pay his child support while he is clearly able to do so.

7. Prison sentences do more to hurt the situation than help. If a non custodial parent is in arrears, taking away his means to work and allowing his obligation to continue while in prison, is only going to make him fall further behind. It is certainly not in the best interest of the child to have one of his or her parents in jail. It costs the American taxpayer money to keep a person in jail. This is money the American taxpayer does not need to pay unnecessarily. The courts need to not be so quick to send fathers to jail, except in situations where arrears are substantial, and/or the non custodial parent has blatantly refused to pay his child support while he is clearly able to do so.

8. Married parents only have the legal obligation to financially support their children until the child is 18. Therefore, child support payments beyond this time, while the child is pursuing college education, ought to be made voluntarily. For the State to dictate that such payments must be made is unconstitutional discrimination against non custodial parents.

9. Presently, many States do not care if a non custodial parent is unemployed or even homeless. Child support must be paid and will be enforced. This is discrimination against non custodial parents. If the parents were married, and child support were not ordered through the court, the unemployed or homeless parent would not be racking in a $300 to $800 or more per month debt while trying to find employment or a place to live. This creates a paralyzing, unnatural stress for non custodial parents facing these already stressful situations. It ought to be mandatory and unquestioned that support orders be lowered during periods of truly involuntary unemployment or homelessness.

10. The States are clearly out of control. Some, such as the 15 Most Mismanaged States for Child Support (Missouri, Alabama, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Washington, Virginia, Colorado, and South Dakota) are especially guilty of creating a financial burden on the United States Tax Payer, the Social Security Fund, and, of course, the Non custodial parent.

11. Wherefore, the Federal Government needs to intervene.

12. I am proposing a federal flat rate child support guideline, such as that used by New York State, one of the 15 Best Managed States for Child Support. I am proposing a Basic Child Support Order of 17\% for one child, 25\% for two children, 29\% for three children, 31\% for four children, at least 35\% for five or more children. Then, reasonable child care and health insurance is added to the support obligation in ratio of income.

13. I am proposing Federal legislation which prohibits garnishment unless these three conditions are all met: (1) the Non Custodial Parent has failed to pay 60\% of their child support order over the previous year, (2) the Non Custodial Parent is $2500 or more in arrears, and (3) the Court finds that the non custodial parent has blatantly refused to pay his child support while he is clearly able to do so.

14. I am proposing Federal legislation which prohibits Drivers and Professional License suspension unless these three conditions are all met: (1) the Non Custodial Parent has failed to pay 50\% of their child support order over the previous year, (2) the Non Custodial Parent is $5000 or more in arrears, and (3) the Court finds that the non custodial parent has blatantly refused to pay his child support while he is clearly able to do so.

15. I am proposing Federal legislation which prohibits Prison Sentences unless these three conditions are all met: (1) the Non Custodial Parent has failed to pay 40\% of their child support order over the previous year, (2) the Non Custodial Parent is $7500 or more in arrears, and (3) the Court finds that the non custodial parent has blatantly refused to pay his child support while he is clearly able to do so.

16. Additionally, I am proposing that Title IV-D of the Social Security Act be repealed immediately, that all Child Support Orders cease automatically upon the minors emancipation (and do not extend into college years, unless voluntarily), that all State Child Support Offices (also known, in other states, as the Family Court or Domestic Relations) be funded pursuant to the number of active Child Support Cases they have on record (as opposed to receiving matching funds based on a dollar amount collected), and that Child Support Modifications be accepted without question when a non custodial parent is on unemployment compensation or has had any type of medical problem or illness which could potentially reduce his ability to make income.

239 Signatures

  • JOSEPH REIS
    • Address
    • 117 east 115th st #5E ny ny 10029
  • isidro grado jr.
    • Address
    • 500 broadway streey
    • Political Party
    • democrat
  • Chasity Whitaker
  • Robert M. Bullard
    • Comments
    • Arrears due to prison, leads to prison
  • Chris Elder
    • Comments
    • It is about time!!!
    • Address
    • 1518 East Chestnut, Bolivar MO 65613
    • Political Party
    • Democratic
    • E Mail
    • elder1518@windstream.net
  • Erin Elder
  • Kimberly Carroll
  • Khaled Miller
  • Timothy OBrien
    • Comments
    • I
  • Kira Love
    • Comments
    • i am in arrears substantially(due to being homeless for a time) and am trying to get back on my feet. Unfortunately, the ways the court condemn those in arrears hurt more than help. I truly believe in your petition and gladly sign.
  • Amanda Hunt
  • nelson Castillo
  • Kenneth R Stilwell
    • Comments
    • Oregon Should be the #1 mismanaged State in the union
    • Address
    • 2312 Nw Cedar Ave.Redmond,Oregon 97756
  • Bacara Duckett
    • Comments
    • I agree changes need to be made in regards to current child support laws. Changes made to treat noncustdodial parents fair and not like "dead beat "parents.
    • Address
    • 1135 Old Isaac Rd Eastover, SC 29044
  • Candi Wagner
    • Political Party
    • Democratic
  • Javlon Duckett
    • Comments
    • Non custodial parents should be able to handle visitation rights during same time as child support is being handled.
  • Jim Kerrigan
  • marquis saddler
  • Ebony Walker
    • Comments
    • I totally agree. I have been trying unsuccessfully to remove child support from my kids dad.
  • Douglas C. Smith
    • Address
    • 1250 NW 21 street Apt.1513 Miami, FL 33142
    • Political Party
    • Democrat
    • E Mail
    • douglassmith2009@comcast.net
  • Sarah Burton
    • Comments
    • Strongly Support!
    • Address
    • Oregon
  • duane van wert
    • Comments
    • В
    • Address
    • В
    • Political Party
    • В
    • E Mail
    • В
  • Christopher Richardson
    • Comments
    • i love it
  • elieser romero
  • Roberta Green
    • Comments
    • We are paying support on a child born out of wedlock and Missourig keeps putting my husband in arrears on an order he was not aware of. Missouri still refuses a paternity test and keeps tallying up the amount.
    • Address
    • 554 Steamboat Landing Road
    • E Mail
    • rlgreen@gci.net
  • Deanna Dilbeck
  • wayne beery
    • Political Party
    • democrat
  • irene katsamakis
    • Address
    • 663 canterbury dr apt.158b
  • daniel j. elms
    • Comments
    • i live im myrtle beach sc. they make me pay 515 amonth and im unemployed!!!!!!! i cat survive!!!
  • Andrew Earl
    • Address
    • Missouri
  • Derick Bradford
    • Comments
    • В
    • Address
    • 1621 S 38th Street, KansasCity, KS 66106
    • Political Party
    • В
    • E Mail
    • В
  • Phil March
    • Comments
    • I WAS ON PROBATION FOR A YEAR, WHILE ON PROBATION I DID NOT HAVE A JOB I WAS PREVOIS AN INVESTIGATOR BUT GOT LAYED OFF WHEN I GOT CONVICTED.. BUT WHILE I WAS ON PROBATION WITH OUT A JOS I WAS ORDERD A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER OF $560.OO A MONTH WHEN I WAS A INVESTIGATOR I ONLY MADE $10, 000.00 A YEAR THATS OVER 60 PERCENT OF MY BAISC YEARLY INCOME THATS NOT EVEN TAKING OUT TAXESTHEN THE ORDER WAS MADE IN JULY 06 IN MAY OF O7 I GOT STABBED UP REALLY BAD IM ON HEVEY MEDICATIONS AN SOCIAL SECURITY AN NOW IT 2010, THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS NOW TRYING TO PUT ME IN JAIL.. THE BASIC POINT IM TRYING TO MAKE IT SHOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR THE STATE TO IMPOSE A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER THAT THEY KNEW I COULD NOT AFFORD AN NEVER MADE THAT MUCH MONEY SINCE I HAVE EVER BEEN EMPLOYED AN NOW TRYING TO PUT ME IN JAIL... THAT SO UNJUST AN UNUNCONSTITUTIONAL
    • Address
    • 8310 HAWKESBURY SAINT LOUIS, MO 63121
    • Political Party
    • republican
    • E Mail
    • harmellmarch@aol.com
  • Greg Washington
    • Comments
    • this sounds good to me and very close to what I have been thinking keeping this in the hands of the states is horrible there should be a federal law that oversses all states regarding child support.
  • David G. Siedt
    • Comments
    • Current child support regulations are killing me and my 2 boys
    • E Mail
    • dsiedt@gmail.com
  • stefanie welliver
    • Comments
    • the people who pay child support are truly unrepresented and treated as criminals to be punished for life and told to step up and take responsibility. but when does the custodial parent have to take responsibilty for keeping the child! the noncustodial parent is then robbed for 23 years and cannot afford to support more children equally because of the first child. there is so much wrong with child support and NEEDS to be fixed for the millions of children that aren't guareented a big check every month.
  • Kim Bullion
  • CHRIS COSTA
  • Gerald P Searfoss
    • Comments
    • I agree, the state of florida is out of hand with its child support guidlines
  • Paul Wallace
  • delvin hale
    • Comments
    • I agree, suspending a drivers licenses does more harm to the situation than good. I wish more petitions like this would be brought to the attention to the necessary lawmakers
  • joy misun
  • Breann Ulicky
    • Comments
    • Im in on of those undesirable states and they gave me one chance(a get out of jail free card) I have very bad Bipolar and mood disorders
    • E Mail
    • wanted.angel@yahoo.com
  • Quincin 2000
    • Comments
    • A Very Good Equal For All Petition.
  • angela robles
    • Comments
    • There should additionally be a tax relief for fathers paying extreme child support. My husband pays over 20,000 in support a year and that is over half of his pay. He gets no exemptions or credits whatsoever.
    • Address
    • 4047 flowerfield road norfolk va
  • John Ulicky
  • Francisco
    • Comments
    • I am currently facing all the discussed problems in this petition and feel that everyone needs to speak up to have this issue heard.
  • Russell Jenkins
    • Comments
    • В
    • Address
    • В
    • Political Party
    • В
    • E Mail
    • В
  • Wayne Brumley
  • jeff
    • Comments
    • yes that would be nice i have my kids all the time and pay the big bill she
    • Address
    • 10506 montrose ave sw lakewood wa'st 98499
  • Jeramy Michael Stevens
    • Comments
    • now we need to address the problem of me having to spend $50,000 and 3 years of my life to fight for my "god given right" to be a parent. The custody and visitation laws also need to be changed.
    • Address
    • 600 E. Weddell Drive, #186, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
    • Political Party
    • doesn't matter but dem.
    • E Mail
    • jeramy.stevens@yahoo.com