Alabama Child Support
How to Apply for Child Support in Alabama?
Any custodial parent, legal guardian, alleged father or non-custodial parent can apply for child support services in Alabama by making an appointment with a County Department of Human Resources office within the state. Download Forms.
How Does Alabama Child Support Calculator Works?
Alabama uses the monthly gross income of the non-custodial parent, the monthly cost of daycare, the monthly cost of health insurance and any existing support or alimony totals paid for previous relationships when calculating child support totals.
How to Claim and Pay Child Support?
Most support payments in Alabama are made through automatic withdrawal and received via direct deposit.
Child Support Performance Stats for the State
Alabama’s Department of Human Resources is responsible for measuring the performance of the state's child support program.
Statistics for Regular On-Time Payments Collection
Other Incentive Performance Measures
| Performance Measures | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Paternity Establishment (%) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| IV-D Paternity Establishment (%) | 91.79 | 92.28 | 94.39 | 95.19 | 96.7 |
| Support Order Establishment (%) | 82.86 | 84.13 | 85.13 | 86.61 | 87.55 |
| Cost-Effectiveness ($) | 4.83 | 5.31 | 4.85 | 5.17 | 6.54 |
Total Number of Children in the Child Support Program
Total Distributed Collections and Total Administrative Expenditures ($ Millions)
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Distributed Collections ($) | 290.57 | 292.85 | 305.98 | 320.48 | 325.01 |
| Total Distributed to Families ($) | 276.35 | 280.48 | 294.02 | 309.15 | 314.1 |
| Total Administrative Expenditures ($) | 66.34 | 60.72 | 69.48 | 68.03 | 54.62 |
Average Collections per Case with Collections
Can child support be paid off early or stopped?
Yes, you may make payments ahead of time if you wish to pay off your obligation early. To stop the payments you must petition for a review for an adjustment of an order if you feel that there is a valid reason.
What Will Happen if You fall Behind Child Support Payment?
Enforcement actions will be taken to collect any support that is owed.
Can you get alimony and child support at the same time?
Yes, you can receive both alimony and child support payments in Alabama without any conflict.
Child Support and Taxes
AL Child support generally has no impact on either parent's taxes.
Can the support payments be claimed on taxes in Alabama?
No, you cannot claim support payments on taxes in Alabama.
Can child support be taken pre-tax?
No, you cannot pay child support pre-tax in Alabama.
Can the support Take my federal tax return?
Yes, a parent who skips support payments may have federal and state tax refunds intercepted.
Paternity Establishment
How do you establish paternity?
Paternity in Alabama can be established once a mother and father complete an Acknowledgment of Paternity or through a court order. It can be established until a child turns 18
What rights does a father have if not on birth certificate?
Rights do not begin until paternity has been established.
Can a mother refuse me paternity test?
A court can order paternity testing if deemed necessary.
How to establish paternity if the father is deceased?
The DNA of a family member is often acceptable.
Can a father get a paternity test without the mother?
Only as long as consent is given by the child's primary legal guardian.
Support Order Establishment
Support orders can be established once paternity has been legally established.
State Child Support orders
Support orders in Alabama will stay in place until a child reaches the legal age of emancipation in the state unless a parent makes a request for an adjustment.
Can child support be modified?
Yes, support orders in Alabama can be modified under certain circumstances once every 36 months.
While not legally necessary, seeking a lawyer's help is highly recommended.
How do I file for a modification of child support?
A written request for a review stating why a parent believes a change should occur must be submitted to the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
Can the support order be appealed?
Yes, a court hearing will be arranged if a request for an adjustment is found to be justified..
Child Support Enforcement
How long does the child support enforcement take?
While enforcement is typically swift, actual times will depend on whether or not a parent can be easily located.
What to do when child support is not paid?
You should contact the child support worker who has been assigned to you.
What Happens if I’m not paying Child support?
You will face income withholding, tax interception, passport denial, license suspensions, liens, and federal prosecution. Funds that are overdue by two years or that amount to at least $10,000 can result in having a criminal record in Alabama.
Can the support debt be forgiven?
An interest-rebate law in Alabama allows for forgiveness of interest owed to the state and the custodial parent when support debts become current and are paid consistently for at least 12 months.
Support Order Termination
How and when do I stop a child support order?
You must submit a request for an adjustment based on a qualifying circumstance.
You can stop paying the support when a child reaches the legal age of emancipation in Alabama, when a child becomes legally emancipated, when the paying parent gains full custody or when the paying parent loses parental rights.
When Can I Apply for Child Support Termination?
Only when a child becomes legally emancipated in some way or a custody situation changes.
Can the custodial parent close a support case?
While a custodial parent can request for a case to be closed, any past-due support that was owed while the custodial parent was on welfare will still be owed to the welfare agency.
What is the legal age to stop paying child support?
19 years old or when the child graduates from high school.
Alabama Hearing Rights
Both parents have hearing rights when orders are first established and when adjustments are wanted.
Alabama Child Support Guidelines
Alabama has specific guidelines in place regarding what categories should be covered in a support order.
Child Support Coverage in Alabama
What is child support meant to cover?
Food, clothing, shelter, medical care and more.
Does the Support Cover Medical Care Expenses?
Yes, medical expenses and insurance coverage are taken into consideration when creating an order.
What if Both Parents are working, will Child Support Cover child care services?
Yes, childcare costs are typically included in a support order.
Are Car Maintenance Costs Covered by the Support?
Yes, a non-custodial parent can be asked to cover at least a percentage of transportation costs.
What is Considered Basic Entertainment for the Support Order?
Access to television shows, movies, the Internet and more.
Are College expenses Covered by Child Support in Alabama?
No, college expenses are not covered as long as there is no prior agreement.
Are Extracurricular Activities covered by Support?
Yes, fees for extracurricular activities are typically covered through support.
Are School Related Costs Covered by the Support?
Yes, fees for school-related activities, field trips and more are typically covered.
Alabama Child Support Offices
| Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Support Enforcement Division | Montgomery, Alabama 36130-4000 | csed@dhr.alabama.gov | 334 242-9300 | http://dhr.alabama.gov/services/Child_Support_Services/Child_Support_Enforcement.aspx |
County Child Support Offices in AL
| County name | Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autauga County | Autauga County, AL Prattville Child Support and Enforcement Office | 203 North Court Street, Prattville , AL 36067 | N/A | 1(334) 358-5000 | http://dhr.alabama.gov/counties/county_results.aspx?id=Autauga |
| Baldwin County | Baldwin County, AL Robertsdale Child Support and Enforcement Office | 22259 Palmer Street, Robertsdale, AL 36567 | N/A | 1(251) 945-2400 | http://dhr.alabama.gov/counties/county_results.aspx?id=Baldwin |
| Barbour County | Barbour County, AL Clayton Child Support and Enforcement Office | 276 Hwy. 239 South, Clayton , AL 36016 | N/A | 1(334) 775-2000 | http://dhr.alabama.gov/counties/county_results.aspx?id=Barbour |
Download Child support Forms for Alabama
| Title | Number |
|---|---|
| Fillable Child Support Guidelines - Notice of Compliance | CS-43 |
| CHILD SUPPORT INFORMATION SHEET | CS-47 |
| Request to Change Child Support | PS-02 |
| CHILD SUPPORT OBLIGATION | CS-41 |