Under New York State law, parents who separate or divorce must provide their children with child support and health insurance coverage until they turn 21 years of age. This financial aid helps ensure that their children can continue to receive proper assistance for their educational and medical needs.
Here are three frequently asked questions about child support in New York State:
How do I make payments?
You may send your child support payments online, by mail or in person. Here are their individual instructions:
- Online: There are three accepted online payment portals that you can utilize for your child support payments in New York. They are ExpertPay, MoneyGram and ChildSupportBillPay New York.
- Mail: You may send a check or money order and make it payable to NYS Child Support Processing Center. Please make sure to provide your full name, your child support account number/s, the county names and the amount.
- In person: You may visit any available MoneyGram branches to pay your child support in cash. Keep in mind that each cash transaction will carry a $3.99 fee.
Depending on the type of payment option you use and whether you made it during a weekday, the payment process may take anywhere between two to five business days.
What happens if I do not pay the full amount?
This payment practice is highly discouraged. If you do not pay your child support amount in full, you will have past-due balances called “arrears.” To offset this, you will have to shoulder an additional 50% of your original child support amount.
If your arrears exceed $2,500, you risk having your passport revoked and your bank accounts placed on liens.
Can I request a modification of my child support costs?
Yes, you and your ex have equal rights to file a petition for a modification of your child support order. To pursue this change, your existing order must be at least three years old, or you are experiencing a “substantial change in circumstances” in your life.
Two common examples of this change are a 15% increase or decrease in your gross income and an evolving expense related to your children’s educational and medical needs.
You are in control of what’s ahead
By learning about the basic child support FAQs in New York, you can navigate the system with better familiarity and avoid any potential hurdles along the way.
