614-241-2174Ohio parents who are new to paying or receiving child support payments may find the process a bit confusing. For instance, some noncustodial parents make child support payments directly to the custodial parent, while other parents pay their support directly to the state. The structure of the payment plan depends on the type of child support case a parent has.
There are four types of child support classifications: IV-D, IV-A, IV-E and non-IV-D. In IV-D cases, the Office of Child Support Enforcement is helping the custodial parent obtain child support in some way. Examples of this help could include establishing paternity, tracking down the noncustodial parent or issuing and enforcing a child support order. In IV-A cases, the state is providing public assistance to the custodial parent. As a result, the case will be automatically forwarded to the Office of Child Support Enforcement, which will attempt to collect support payments from the noncustodial parent.
In IV-E cases, a custodial parent is not taking care of the child. Instead, the child has been placed in foster care or is being cared for by a friend or relative. The Office of Child Support Enforcement also oversees these cases and attempts to recover costs from the parents. Finally, in non-IV-D cases, child support arrangements are made privately between the custodial and noncustodial parents. The Office of Child Support Enforcement only becomes involved if a parent fails to make the required payments.
Child support payments help parents cover a child’s essential needs, including school expenses and health insurance. Parents who are having difficulty collecting child support payments may benefit from speaking to a family law attorney about their legal options.
Source: Very Well Family, “Types of Child Support Cases“, Jennifer Wolf, April 8, 2018