why am I still paying CT child support? When is paid off? It still comes out of my check.
A) I’m sorry for the frustration you may be feeling about your child support payments. There are a few possible reasons why you are still paying child support in Connecticut, even if your child is over 18 or emancipated. Some of them are:
- You have an arrearage balance on your child support account. This means that you owe past-due child support that was not paid on time or in full. If you have an arrearage balance, you will continue to pay child support until the balance is paid off, even if your current obligation has ended.
- You have a court order that requires you to pay child support beyond the age of 18. In Connecticut, the court may order child support to continue until the child is 19 or graduates from high school, whichever happens first. The court may also order child support to continue for a child who is mentally, physically, or emotionally disabled and living with the custodial parent.
- You have agreed to pay child support beyond the age of 18. In some cases, parents may voluntarily agree to pay child support for a longer period of time, such as until the child finishes college or becomes self-supporting. This agreement must be in writing and approved by the court.
To find out when your child support payments will end, you can check your account balance and payment history online at CT Smart Child Support or by calling 1-888-233-7223. You can also contact your local Support Enforcement Services Unit office or the Child Support Call Center at 1-800-228-KIDS (5437) for more information.
Here are other reasons why you might still be paying child support in Connecticut, even if your child is over 18 years old. Here are a few possibilities:
- The child support order may have a provision for post-majority support, such as if the child is still in school or has a disability.
- The child support order may have been modified to extend beyond the child’s 18th birthday.
- You may have fallen behind on your child support payments and are now being required to pay backarrears.
- You may have a lien on your property or wages as a result of your child support debt.
If you are unsure why you are still paying child support, you should contact the Connecticut Child Support Enforcement Agency (CCSEPC). They can help you understand your child support order and any outstanding debts.
Here are the ways to contact CCSEPC:
- Phone: 1-888-233-7223
- Website: https://ct.smartchildsupport.com/
- Mail: Connecticut-CCSPC P.O. Box 990031 Hartford, CT 06199-0031
You can also request a copy of your child support order from CCSEPC. This will show you the specific terms of the order, including the amount of support you are required to pay and when the order expires.
If you believe that you should no longer be paying child support, you can request a modification of the order. To do this, you will need to file a petition with the court that issued the order. The court will then consider your request and make a decision based on the facts of your case.
I hope this helps you understand why you are still paying child support and when it will be paid off. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I’m here to help.