Child Support Issues

The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program was signed into law in 1975 as a federal-state program to enhance the well-being of families by making child support a reliable source of income. The CSE program is based on the premise that both parents are financially responsible for their children. The CSE program is operated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and by several Indian tribes or tribal organizations. State CSE programs have at their disposal a wide variety of methods by which to obtain child support obligations. In addition, states under their own authority and the authority of their courts can use the threat of incarceration and/or actual incarceration. This book provides an overview on federal policies relating to medical care and incarceration as an enforcement tool in child support cases. Included in this book also are frequently asked questions relating to child custody and support issues.