Indiana Child Support Enforcement Resource Center

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

Indiana Child Support Enforcement Measures

If a non-custodial parent does not pay child support, he or she is subject to enforcement measures according to Indiana child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.

Who Can Enforce Court-Ordered Child Support in Indiana?

The official child support enforcement agency in Indiana is the Child Support Bureau of the Department of Child Services. The State of Indiana is required by federal law to provide child support enforcement services. These services are funded by the federal government and the State of Indiana.

INDIANA CHILD SUPPORT BUREAU CASELOAD STATISTICS1
Full Time Equiv. Staff 903
Total Caseload 341,097

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

Interest on Missed Indiana Child Support Payments

Indiana charges interest on missed payments if the amount in arrears is determined in a court entry, interest accrues at rate of 8% per annum.

If the court has adjudicated an accrued arrearage, interest is charged on retroactive support at 8% per annum.

If court adjudicates an accrued arrearage, interest - per Indiana state law on judgments - accrues at 8% on the adjudicated amount. In addition - per specific child support only statute - the court may order interest at up to 1.5% per month.

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

Indiana limits enforcement of child support orders to 10 years after the child turns 18 years old or the date of emancipation, whichever is earlier. The statute of limitations for Indiana child support judgments is 20 years.

Indiana's Statute of Limitations on Determining Paternity

Indiana's statute of limitations for paternity states that the child may file any time prior to their 20th birthday.

Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in Indiana

Indiana Code (IC 31-16-6-6) sets the age of emancipation at 21 years of age.

In Indiana, child support is automatically terminated at age 21, unless the child has been determined to be legally incapacitated or an order for educational support beyond high school is established prior to the child turning 21.

How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Indiana?

Indiana's Supreme Court issues a compilation of instructions for determining child support payments called the Indiana Child Support Rules and Guidelines. They are binding in every Indiana court having jurisdiction over child support.

A copy of the Monthly Payment Schedules is available from the State of Indiana's website.

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.

Our clients say...

It took me 10 years to catch up with my husband to establish a court order for child support. Years had gone by and his debt was in the thousands. I got Human Services involved and they told me that because I was now in a different state I had to close my case and had to open my case there. Weeks after I sent the paperwork to the Child Support Enforcement office, I received a letter saying I needed to attach notarized proof of previous payements made etc, etc, etc. I was tired of going through the process of trying to get child support owed.

I found the website for Support Collectors. I figured it probably wouldn't work and a lot of paperwork would be required...Well, there was not a lot of paperwork. It was so easy, I don't know why these other agencies need so much stuff when Support Collectors took the basic information and I had payment coming in in less than 6 weeks (this includes the time that I filed). Support Collectors kept in contact with me and was able to establish a settlement in no time. I was really surprised. I would recommend this service to anyone else (man or woman). The service was excellent.
- Lee M., Alabama
Collected $26,000


After many years of searching through various agencies for my ex-husband, a dear friend told me about the Support Collectors web site. I logged on and requested an application, thinking to myself it won't make a difference. We hadn't found him in 19 years, they won't be able to find him either. To my surprise they did and very quickly. Support Collectors handled everything very professionally and I received my settlement of $60,000 within a few months!

I would highly recommend Support Collectors to anyone who is owed child support. Thank you Support Collectors for doing what I thought was completely hopeless.
- Terry M., Illinois
Collected $26,000


Thank you so much for your help in getting the child support payments my daughter deserves! I only wish I would not have waited so long to contact you for assistance. You succeeded when everyone else had failed.

Don't try to handle this problem on your own with the department of child support services who are drowning in a sea of paperwork, let Support Collectors take care of you personally. The best part is that you don't owe them anything until they get payments for you and believe me, it is worth every penny.
- Teresa H., Illinois
Collected $26,000