The parent paying child support is called the NON CUSTODIAL PARENT or OBLIGOR.
The parent receiving child support is called the CUSTODIAL PARENT or OBLIGEE.
A Support Order tells you how much child support must be paid each month. If you have to pay child support, you are still responsible for that amount the whole time you are in prison. The total amount you owe keeps increasing unless payments are being made on your case.
New York State has a website with information and videos for parents, visit:
www.childsupport.ny.gov
Notify your local Support Enforcement Agency anytime your address, phone number or employment changes. Call 2-1-1 if you need the number to the Support Enforcement Agency.
If you are the one that is owed child support, contact your local Support Enforcement Agency to see what you can do to start collecting again once you are released.
Do not make payments directly to the custodial parent. That will not count. You will still owe that money.
Pay the amount you owe each month. If you are having trouble paying this amount, contact your local Support Enforcement Agency right away. You might be able to get your payment changed through a Support Order Modification if you qualify.
If you are more than three months behind in child support, your driver’s license can be suspended prior to your incarceration or after your release.
You could go back to prison for not paying child support.
Support Order Modification
In some cases, you may qualify to get your Support Order modified (changed) while you are in prison or right after you get out, so that the amount you have to pay each month is less. This process takes several months. Call your local Support Enforcement Agency for more information.
Modification does not help with what you already owe. Your new payment amount would not start until the first day of the month after the modification is approved.
