Do I Still Have to Pay Child Support If I Move?
Posted in Best Interest of the Child,California,Child Custody,Child Support,Co-Parenting on September 15, 2023
Parents often need to move to another state for work, to start a new life, or to help out with their elderly parents or other family members. However, if they have children from a previous marriage that they are paying child support, they may wonder if they still have to make these payments if they move to a different state.
The answer to this question is yes. The United States ensures that parents still have to pay child support and follow all agreements made regarding their children regardless of whether they are in the same state as them or not.
What Laws Protect and Enforce Child Support Agreements?
Two laws protect and enforce child support agreements for other states. These laws are the Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act (FFCCSOA) and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). The FFCCSOA law is passed across the United States, and the UIFSA is a law almost every state has implemented.
The FFCCSOA explains that “the law requires States to enforce child support orders made by other States and prohibits States from modifying other States’ child support orders unless certain jurisdictional requirements are met.” That said, this federal law clearly states that parents must continue obeying the child support agreement developed in another state. The UIFSA works with the FFCCSOA, explaining how child support orders are enforced when a parent moves to a different state than their children.
So, Does My Child Support Change if I Move Out of State?
Moving out of state does not change anything about your child support order. You must still pay for your child’s food, medical expenses, clothing, schooling, etc. Therefore, your agreement with their other parent or ex-spouse will remain, and you will be expected to follow it. Instead, the agreement will now be enforced by the new state that you move to.
You should never assume you can get off scot-free from paying child support if you move to another state. The agreement you made is still in place, and while it may take some time for your payments to start going through again, the other parent receiving the child support will eventually begin receiving child support payments from you again. They will likely speak to someone about recovering missed or slow payments if there are any issues or complications.
When Do I Stop Making Child Support Payments in California?
According to California Child Support Services, most child support orders require parents to pay child support for their children until they reach the age of 18. Some parents must pay child support until their child turns 19 if they have not graduated high school yet. Therefore, the general requirement is for parents to financially support their children until they become legal adults and finish high school.
Contact a California Child Support Lawyer Today
Child support orders can be confusing to understand. However, the family law attorneys at Ratzer|Dobis do their best to answer questions and concerns and simplify the child support process. Contact us to schedule your free consultation today. We look forward to meeting and assisting you soon.