Child Support FAQs

A: When parents are separated, the parent whom the children primarily reside with can file a complaint for child support.

A: The legal obligation to pay support starts from the date of the filing, not before.

A: For detailed information about the Support Guidelines go to www.childsupport.state.pa.us. This site has the Pennsylvania Support Estimator which can be used to approximate the amount of support to be paid.

A: The guideline amount is for “basic support”, such as food, shelter and clothing. The cost of daycare, private school, extracurricular activities, medical, etc., is added.

A: Payments made pursuant to a court order are via wage attachment and are collected by PACSES in Harrisburg, PA. for distribution.

A: Child support continues until high school graduation or age 18, whichever occurs last.

A: What if I lose my job? The amount of support can be changed if there is a change in financial circumstances due to a change in income of either parent or additional child expenses.

A: There is no connection between custody and support. Support must be paid whether you see the child or not.

A: Special rules apply when determining who may claim a child as a dependent. For example, if you are the non-custodial parent and provide more than half of your child’s total support, you still may not be able to claim the child as a dependent. Generally, the custodial parent is allowed to claim the exemption for a child who is dependnet even if the non-custodial parent provides child support. A special rule may apply when the parents of a child are divorced or legally seperated or when the parents live apart at all times during the last 6 months of the calender year. If this rule applies, the non-custodial parent may claim an exemption for the child if the custodial parent signs an IRS Form 8332, Release of Claim to Exemption for Child of Divorced or separated Parents, or a substantially similar statement, or if a divorce decree, a decree of seperate maintainance or a written seperation agreement provides that the non-custodial parent is entitled to the dependency deduction for the child. Form 8332 is also required for parents who were never married.

A: If not, please let us know here, and we will get right back to you.