Here are the key points about child support enforcement and warrants in New Hampshire:
Child support orders in New Hampshire are legally enforceable. Both parents have a duty to financially support their children.
The New Hampshire Bureau of Child Support Services (BCSS) handles child support enforcement. They have several tools to enforce child support orders, including:
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- Wage garnishment
- Intercepting tax refunds
- Suspending professional/driver’s licenses
- Placing liens on property
- Denying passports for those owing over $2,500
If a parent fails to pay child support, they may be found in contempt of court. This can potentially lead to arrest warrants being issued as a last resort.
Jail time is used as a last resort for child support enforcement, as it prevents the parent from earning money to pay support. it may be used if other enforcement methods fail.
Consider This:
- Parents can request child support modifications if their circumstances change substantially or it has been over 3 years since the last order.
- Child support generally continues until the child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever is later. It may be extended for disabled children.
- If a parent moves out of state, New Hampshire can still enforce the child support order through interstate agreements.
- Parents can use the online Child Support Customer Portal to manage their cases, view payment history, and communicate with caseworkers.
- Child support hearings may be conducted by Child Support Hearings Officers, who make recommendations to judges for final orders.
If you are owed child support in New Hampshire, contacting BCSS is typically the first step for enforcement. They have various tools to collect payments before resorting to arrest warrants. Legal assistance may be helpful for complex cases.
What is the Bureau of Child Support Services (BCSS):
The Bureau of Child Support Services (BCSS) is a division of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services that handles child support matters in the state. Here are the key points about BCSS:
- Purpose: BCSS aims to encourage responsible parenting, family self-sufficiency, and child well-being by providing assistance related to child support.
- Services Provided:
- Locating parents
- Establishing paternity
- Establishing and modifying support orders
- Enforcing support obligations
- Obtaining child and medical support for children
- Eligibility: BCSS services are available to any parent or caretaker of a minor child (under 18) when the other parent is not living in the same household.
- Application Process: Individuals can apply for BCSS services by completing an Application for Child Support Services form.
- Enforcement Tools: BCSS has various methods to enforce child support orders, including:
- Wage withholding
- Intercepting tax refunds
- Suspending professional/driver’s licenses
- Placing liens on property
- Reporting delinquent payments to credit bureaus
- Legal Representation: BCSS staff and attorneys represent the Department of Health and Human Services, not individual parents or children.
- Scope: While BCSS handles child support matters, it does not establish court orders for parenting, visitation, alimony, or custody.
- Timeframes: BCSS may begin reviewing a case for enforcement after 30 consecutive days without payment. License revocation may be initiated after 60 days of non-payment.
- Duration of Support: In New Hampshire, child support is typically payable until the child turns 18 or completes high school, whichever occurs later, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
BCSS plays a role in securing children receive financial support from both parents, even when the parents are separated, divorced, or were never married.