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

Laura H.

Indiana

“I am writing to personally thank you for the outstanding job you've done while working on my case. In the beginning I was skeptical of what could actually be done by you or anyone. Before contacting your agency, I had already jumped the usual hoops of going through the county and even hiring my own lawyer to get support enforced.

When I contacted your company, I had viewed it as my last option with nowhere to turn to for help that was within my means...It wasn't until the economic shift of the downsizing trend affected me and left me without a job, that I truly felt helpless. Then you stepped in, and got results within a few weeks!

I cannot thank you enough for all of your hard work, and the immediacy of getting the ball rolling in the beginning where I actually got a monthly check! As you know, recently you were able to secure a lump sum settlement resulting in a $20,000.00 check! AMAZING!”

ANOTHER SATISFIED CLIENT

Novella L.

Louisiana

“I would like to thank you all for the quick but hard work that you have done in collecting my back child support. It is such a relief to have an end to the long, frustrating road of trying to make my child's father owe up to his responsibilities. Too often, I had to listen to his excuses when he didn't pay his monthly child support...Then the months became years.

So, please extend my words of encouragement to other distressed parents, there can be a light at the end of the tunnel so don't be afraid to pursue what rightfully belongs to you and your children. Again, I think you, the Support Collectors staff for putting an end to this matter.”