Kentucky Child Support Enforcement Resource Center

• Kentucky Support Enforcement Measures
• Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Kentucky
• Kentucky 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 Kentucky?
• Custody and Visitation Issues

Even if the non-custodial parent lives outside the state of Kentucky, the law requires cooperation between states. The non-custodial parent is legally required to make regular child support payments, regardless of where they live.

Kentucky 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 Kentucky child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.

• Income withholding (paycheck, unemployment, worker's comp)
• Denial or suspension of a driver's or professional licenses
• Intercept of lottery winnings
• Intercept of state or federal taxes
• Denial of a passport applications

Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Division of Child Support is the state-run child support enforcement office for Kentucky. The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services is required by federal law to provide services through Division of Child Support and is funded by the federal government and the State of Kentucky.

KENTUCKY DCS CASELOAD STATISTICS1
Full Time Equiv. Staff	972
Total Caseload	315,573

^{1 U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Boxscores for FY 2005}

Interest on Missed Child Support Payments

The State of Kentucky does not charge interest on missed payments or retroactive support. However, they do provide for interest on adjudicated arrears at a rate of 12%. But only if reduced to a judgment and ordered.

Kentucky's Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)

The statute of limitations for enforcement of child support arrears in Kentucky 15 years after the last child on the order emancipates.

Kentucky's Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity

Kentucky law stipulates that paternity must be established before the child is 19 years old.

Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in Kentucky

KRS 405.020(1) provides..."The father shall be primarily liable for the nurture and education of his children who are under the age of eighteen (18) when the child is a full-time high school student, but not beyond completion of the school year during which the child reaches the age of nineteen (19) years."

How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Kentucky?

Child support payments are determined by using established child support guidelines for the state of Kentucky. These guidelines provide the percentage of the noncustodial parent's adjusted gross income that should be paid as support based on the number of children eligible.

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.

Call Us Toll Free: 1-888-78-CHILD (782-4453)

Success Stories

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT

Cheyenne D.

Illinois

“I want to thank you for the money you were able to collect for me.

Without you I would have never gotten a cent. My only regret is that I didn't get you involved sooner in my case. Thank you for all your efforts.”

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT

David B.

Oregon

“I am a single dad and the father of two children. Many times you hear stories of deadbeat dads, but rarely do you hear the same term used against mothers who have become deadbeat moms and are not sharing in the responsibility of raising their children.

Several years ago, I got fed up with the State and County officials at the Division of Child Support. After many years of trying to work with my local child support officials I realized that they were overwhelmed, understaffed and ultimately a waste of my time. DCS was unable to obtain child support arrears from my ex wife who had abandoned the children when they were just 2 and 3 years old. The very first month after Support Collectors took over the collections aspect of obtaining child support I received a payment. I was floored.

If you've gone years without receiving a child support payment, Support Collectors can and will get the job done. I more than likely would have never received a thing had it not been for Support Collectors.”