New York Child Support Enforcement Resource Center

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

New York Child 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 New York child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.

Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in New York?

The New York Division of Child Support Enforcement is the state-run child support enforcement office for New York. The New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is required by federal law to provide services through Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) and is funded by the federal government and the State of New York.

NEW YORK DCSE CASELOAD STATISTICS1
Full Time Equiv. Staff 3,061
Total Caseload 897,515

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

Support Collectors Collects Past Due Child Support in New York

If the Division of Child Support Enforcement hasn't been able to get the results you want or you don't feel they're giving your case the personal attention it deserves, Support Collectors can help.

Support Collectors has developed a proven system that teams attorneys, investigators and enforcement specialists to work your case from every possible angle. We work nationwide and our only business is collecting support. Our success rate is up to three times better than the New York DCSE and we never charge you a cent unless we put money in your hands.

Interest on Missed Child Support Payments

The State of New York provides for interest on missed payments and adjudicated arrears at a rate of 9% per year, but only on arrearages reduced to a money judgment by the courts.

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

In New York, child support arrears enforcement is limited to 20 years from date of default in payment regardless of whether or not the past due has been reduced to a judgment for support orders entered after 8/7/1987, 6 years for default in payment on orders entered on or before 8/7/1987, and 20 years for all defaults in payment which have been granted as a money judgment.

New York's Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity

New York law stipulates that paternity may be established up until the child turns 21.

Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in New York

The age of majority in New York is 21 years of age. Duty to provide support is terminated automatically at 21 unless specifically stipulated in the support order. (FCA 413(1)a)

Under some circumstances, such as a child's handicap or stipulation in a divorce decree, the court may extend the obligation beyond age 21.

How Are New York Child Support Payment Amounts Determined?

The New York courts use a state guideline to determine what the non-custodial parent will pay. New York child support amounts are based partly on the non-custodial parent's adjusted gross income and partly on how many children are on the order. The court determines the non-custodial parent's gross income, and then deducts from that amount Medicare, social security tax, New York City or Yonkers tax, and other allowable deductions to establish the non-custodial parent's adjusted gross income. The court then multiplies the adjusted gross income by the standard guideline percentage for the number of children. These percentages are 17% for one child, 25% for two children, 29% for three children, 31% for four children, and at least 35% for five or more children.

The standard guideline is applied to most parental earnings up to $80,000 (minus certain local and social security tax amounts). This includes any worker's compensation, disability payments, unemployment benefits, social security payments, and many other forms of income. Beyond $80,000, the courts determine whether or not to use the percentage guidelines, and may consider other factors in determining the full support amount.

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.

You Have Options

Any custodial parent not receiving public assistance may contract with a child support collection agency such as Support Collectors, or hire a private attorney, and at the same time have a case open with the New York Division of Child Support Enforcement. We work harder to collect the child support you are owed.

Collecting support is all we do and we give you the personalized, dedicated attention that your case deserves. Call us at (888) 729-6661 or get started online right now! We don't charge a cent until we put money in your pocket.

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