Over Three Decades Of Resolving Family Law Issues In Montana

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The process of filing for child support and having it enforced

On Behalf of | Aug 10, 2019 | Child Support |

When the process of divorce is still relatively new for couples in Montana, one of the concerns that may cross their mind is how they will continue to support the needs and comforts of their children without the support of a spouse. This change in the dynamic of their family will undoubtedly have an impact on parenting and raising their children, but resources like child support have been created to hopefully provide at least a little relief. 

Child support takes into consideration the daily needs of a child including shelter, food, water, education and childcare if the parent they live with has to maintain a job. Using details gathered from the personal circumstances of a couple’s divorce and logistics, courts will determine an amount to be paid, generally by one spouse to the other. Traditionally, men were required to pay child support as they were the primary breadwinners, but with changes in how many women are working and maintaining substantial jobs, there are now many women that are also paying child support. 

When people are preparing to file for child support, the Office of Child Support Enforcement reminds them to make sure they have gathered the appropriate information to make the process as efficient as possible. Some of the documentation they will need includes their divorce decree, birth certificates of any children, financials that show all assets and income, paternity records, expense reports and any applicable information about the noncustodial parent. 

If child support is recommended and the paying parent refuses to pay, Montana.gov warns that violators will be subject to consequences in the form of having their income withheld, having their driver’s license suspended, having their tax refund withheld and having their refusal reported to credit agencies among other things.