Courts

In many states, courts assist the child support program by establishing realistic and timely child support orders. Setting accurate and fair orders prevents arrears and ensures orders are based on parents’ ability to pay.

States have discretion in establishing and modifying child support orders and may use a judicial or administrative process, or a combination of both.

• Judicial process – the court sets the support order.
• Administrative process – the state child support agency sets the support order.

Find out which process your state uses.