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North Carolina Child Support Enforcement Resource Center
- North Carolina Support Enforcement Measures
- Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in North Carolina
- North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
- Custody and Visitation Issues
Even if the non-custodial parent lives outside the state of North Carolina, the law requires cooperation between states. The non-custodial parent is legally required to make regular child support payments, regardless of where they live.
North Carolina 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 North Carolina child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.
- Inclusion on New Mexico’s 25 most wanted for non-payment of child support posters
- Wage withholding
- Occupational or professional license(s) revoked
- Driver’s license revoked
- State and federal tax refund intercepts
- Liens placed on assets
Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in North Carolina?
The North Carolina Child Support Enforcement is the state-run child support enforcement office for North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is required by federal law to provide services through the division of Social Services Child Support Enforcement (CSE) and is funded by the federal government and the state of North Carolina.
| NORTH CAROLINA CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT CASELOAD STATISTICS1 | |
|---|---|
| Full Time Equiv. Staff | 1,641 |
| Total Caseload | 405,706 |
1 U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Boxscores for FY 2005
Interest on Missed Child Support Payments
North Carolina law makes provisions to charge interest on late child support payments, adjudicated arrears, and retroactive support. The rates are set at the court’s discretion.
North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)
The statute of limitations for enforcement of child support orders in North Carolina is is 10 years from when the installment became due, then a judgment can be revived once for 10 more years.
North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity
In North Carolina, paternity must be established by child’s 18th birthday.
Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in North Carolina
The age of emancipation in North Carolina is 18 years of age. (Section 40-4-7 (b)(3)(b))
Support orders may continue to 20 years of age if the child is still in high school.
How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in North Carolina?
North Carolina’s child support guidelines provide a range of amounts based on both parents’ gross monthly income, a comparative percentage of each parent’s income, a number of related expenses (child care, health and dental coverage), the number of children involved.
Circumstances that create a substantial hardship in the obligor, obligee or children may justify a change upward or downward from the amount that would otherwise be payable under the guidelines. Any change is determined by the court.
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.