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New Hampshire Child Support Enforcement Resource Center
- New Hampshire Support Enforcement Measures
- Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire?
- Custody and Visitation Issues
Even if the non-custodial parent lives outside the state of New Hampshire, 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 Hampshire 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 Hampshire child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.
- Wage withholding
- Reporting delinquent payors to credit bureaus
- Driver’s, recreational, and professional license revocation
- Taking tax refunds
- Preventing the issuance of passports
- Placement of liens on assets
- Garnishment of bank accounts or investments
- Taking lottery winnings
Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in New Hampshire?
The New Hampshire Division of Child Support Services is the state-run child support enforcement office for New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is required by federal law to provide services through Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) and is funded by the federal government and the state of New Hampshire.
| NEW HAMPSHIRE DCSS CASELOAD STATISTICS1 | |
|---|---|
| Full Time Equiv. Staff | 168 |
| Total Caseload | 37,426 |
1 U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Boxscores for FY 2005
Interest on Missed Child Support Payments
New Hampshire does not make provisions for interest to be charged on late child support payments, retroactive support, or adjudicated arrears.
New Hampshire’s Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)
Pursuant to RSA 458:17,VII, support payments become judgments when due and payable by operation of law. Once a debt is a judgment, the New Hampshire statute of limitations to enforce a child support order is 20 years.
New Hampshire’s Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity
In New Hampshire paternity action must commence by the child’s 18th birthday.
Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in New Hampshire
The age of emancipation in New Hampshire is age 18 or when the child completes high school, whichever is later; becomes married or a member of the armed services; unless children are declared legally dependent beyond that age due to mental or physical disability; or unless the court has otherwise ordered support to continue beyond age 18. (RSA 458:35-c)
How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in New Hampshire?
The monthly child support obligation in New Hampshire is established in accordance with the NH Child Support Guidelines.
NH DCSS provides an online child support payment calculator to estimate child support obligation.
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.