Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Resource Center
- Hawaii Support Enforcement Measures
- Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Hawaii
- Hawaii Child Support Services Caseload Statistics
- Interest on Missed Child Support Payments
- Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support
- Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity
- Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority
- How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Hawaii?
- Custody and Visitation Issues
Even if the non-custodial parent lives outside the state of Hawaii, the law requires cooperation between states. The non-custodial parent is legally required to make regular child support payments, regardless of where they live.
Hawaii Support Enforcement Measures
If a non-custodial parent does not pay child support, he or she is subject to enforcement measures in accordance with Federal and Hawaii child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.
- Federal and state tax refund intercepts
- Worker's compensation intercepts
- Unemployment benefit intercepts
- Insurance settlement intercepts
- Liens against real and personal property
- Support delinquencies reported to credit agencies
- License suspensions including: driver license, professional licenses
- Passport denial
Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency is the state-run child support enforcement office for Hawaii. The Hawaii Department of the Attorney General is required by federal law to provide services through Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) and is funded by the federal government and the State of Hawaii.
| HAWAII CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AGENCY CASELOAD STATISTICS1 | |
|---|---|
| Full Time Equiv. Staff | 200 |
| Total Caseload | 99,842 |
1 U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Boxscores for FY 2005
Interest on Missed Child Support Payments
The State of Hawaii does not allow for interest on judgements, missed payments or retroactive support.
Hawaii's Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)
Hawaii's statute of limitations for child support enforcement is the child's 33rd birthday or 10 years after the judgement was entered, whichever is later.
Hawaii's Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity
Hawaii requires that paternity be established within 3 years of the child reaching the age of majority.
Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in Hawaii
The age of majority in Hawaii is 18. (Hawaii Revised Statutes § 577-1)
An order terminating child support is automatically entered when the child reaches the age of majority unless the child is disabled or attending college full-time.
How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, support payments are determined by the family court taking into consideration the following: earnings, income, and resources of both parents; provided that earnings be the net amount, after deductions for taxes, and social security; earning potential, reasonable necessities, and borrowing capacity of both parents; needs of the child; balance the standard of living of both parents and child to avoid placing any below the poverty level; amount of public assistance which would be paid for the child under the full standard of need; existence of other dependents of the obligor parent
Custody and Visitation Issues
Child support and visitation rights are separate issues. The court determines both and will usually order the non-custodial parent to pay support and the custodial parent to make the child available for visits.
The custodial parent must obey the court order for visitation, even if the non-custodial parent cannot or will not pay child support. The court can enforce any of its orders against either parent.
