Oklahoma Child Support
Oklahoma Child Support Services
The Support Services agency of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services is tasked with handling all of the state’s child support claims. To apply for the support services, a parent will need to complete an application. These forms are available online or by mail. To request a mailed copy of the application, contact the agency at 1-800-522-2922. Once the form is completed, it should be mailed to Case Initiation Center, P.O. Box 248843, Oklahoma City, OK 73124. This application will be assigned to a specific child support office and reviewed. Applicants will be contacted regarding the next steps in the process. Download Forms.
Oklahoma Child Support Calculator
Courts in Oklahoma calculate a parent’s child support obligations based on the parent’s income, the costs of health insurance, the costs of necessary childcare expenses and the amount of time each parent spends with the child.
Oklahoma Child Support Payments
Parents must make payments through Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services. Parents can pay through direct mail, SMART e-Pay, MoneyGram, over the phone, electronically or over the phone. Some forms of payment require a fee for each transaction. Custodial parents collect their support through direct deposit to their bank account.
Child Support Performance Stats for Oklahoma
Data from the fiscal year 2013 revealed that about 45 percent of families in Oklahoma do not receive their current child support orders. That year, about six percent of overdue child support was collected and distributed.
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 (%) | 78.4 | 80.29 | 81.55 | 82.55 | 81.89 |
| Support Order Establishment (%) | 4.53 | 4.81 | 4.81 | 5.07 | 4.89 |
| Cost-Effectiveness ($) | 4.53 | 4.81 | 4.81 | 5.07 | 4.89 |
Total Number of Children in the Child Support Program
Total Distributed Collections and Total Administrative Expenditures ($ Millions)
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Distributed Collections ($) | 315.12 | 329.78 | 338.58 | 348.82 | 342.04 |
| Total Distributed to Families ($) | 297.09 | 312.34 | 322.32 | 332.85 | 326.61 |
| Total Administrative Expenditures ($) | 75.26 | 73.96 | 75.61 | 73.83 | 74.81 |
Average Collections per Case with Collections
Can the support be paid off early?
It would be a mistake to attempt to pay off payments early. A child’s needs will change as they grow, and a parent’s situation may also change. These changes may warrant a modification of your obligations in the future.
What Will Happen if You fall Behind Child Support Payment?
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Reporting delinquency to credit bureaus
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Charges of contempt of court
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Suspension of state-issued licenses
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Interception of income tax
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Liens on property
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Withholding income
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Tax refund offset
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Suspension of passports
Can you get alimony and support at the same time?
It is possible for custodial parents who were previously married to collect both alimony payments and support payments at the same time. The support provides for the youngster’s needs, and alimony helps financially support the former spouse.
Can you stop the support payments?
No. You should never stop making court-ordered and mandatory payments unless the order has terminated. When the support obligation ends, non-custodial parents can safely stop making payments.
Child Support and Taxes
When parents do not reside together, only one parent can claim the child as a dependent for income tax purposes. Federal laws assume that the custodial parent should maintain the right to the federal tax exemption, but Oklahoma courts have the discretion to allocate these exemptions as they see fit.
Can the support payments be claimed on taxes in Oklahoma?
No, the support is a non-taxable income, so you shouldn’t claim these payments on your tax return. Parents also cannot deduct child support payments from their taxes either..
How does my child support affect my taxes in Oklahoma?
Child support payments are considered tax-neutral for IRS federal income tax purposes, so they shouldn’t impact your taxes.
Can the support be taken pre-tax?
Pre-tax deductions are not included when considering a parent’s disposal income for the support.
Can child support Take my federal tax return?
Yes. Your federal income tax refund can be offset when you are delinquent on child support payments. If this happens to you, then you will receive a notice to inform you of the interception.
Paternity Establishment
Paternity describes the relationship a father has with his biological children. When paternity is established, fathers are afforded certain rights and responsibilities regarding the child. The father will be given certain visitation and custody rights, but they will also be responsible for financially supporting the child as they grow.
How do you establish paternity?
Paternity may be established through a voluntary acknowledgment form submitted to Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services, but this form only establishes an obligation for the support. Paternity actions will establish a father’s rights to visitation or custody..
What rights does a father have if not on birth certificate?
If a father isn’t listed on the child’s birth certificate, then they are considered legally fatherless. Fathers will not retain any rights to the child until paternity is established through a court order.
Can a mother refuse me paternity test?
No. If a mother is refusing a paternity test, then a father can enforce his legal rights by seeking a court order.
How to establish paternity if the father is deceased?
If the father is deceased, then it may still be possible to perform a DNA test on the late parent’s relatives.
Can a father get a paternity test without the mother?
Certain genetic tests do not require the mother’s DNA, but it’s important for fathers to recognize they have a legal right to a paternity test. Seeking a court order may be a father’s only option when the mother won’t consent to a paternity test.
How long does a father have to establish paternity in Oklahoma?
An acknowledgment or affidavit of paternity (AOP) can be signed at the hospital within 72 hours of the child's birth, or at the local health department. Both the mother and the father must sign the affidavit. Within 60 days of the signing the affidavit, however, anyone who is entitled to file a paternity case can file a case and ask for genetic testing.
Support Order Establishment
Before a parent can begin collecting payments, they will need to establish a court-ordered child support order. These orders are often included in paternity orders or divorce decrees, but they may also be issued by Oklahoma’s Department of Human Services. Parents in Oklahoma who are married should file for divorce, and those parents that are unmarried will need to file a paternity case.
State Child Support Orders
The support orders are designed to help financially support the child and provide for the child’s basic needs. The exact amount of money the non-custodial parent will be obligated to pay will be determined based on the gross income of both parents, child care expenses and medical insurance costs. Only a judge can establish a support order.
Can the support be modified?
Yes, it is possible for parents to modify the amount of the support payments they are obligated to pay under certain circumstances.
Parents can modify the support orders when there has been a substantial change in the needs of the child, the income of the parents, child care expenses, medical insurance or when the child has reached the age of majority.
How do I file for a modification of Oklahoma child support?
Parents can send a written request for a modification of their child support order at any time in Oklahoma. They will be mailed financial questionnaires to complete, and caseworkers will determine whether a modification is appropriate.
Can a support order appealed?
No. Although the support obligations may be terminated based on you and your child’s circumstances, the order won’t be appealed.
Do you need a lawyer to modify the support?
Parents do not need to hire a private attorney to modify their support orders in Oklahoma, and there are no costs associated with modification requests.
Child Support Enforcement
How long does the support enforcement take?
Processing times are affected by things like whether or not paternity needs to be established and if a non-custodial parent can be located.
What to do when the support is not paid?
When you aren’t receiving your child support, it’s important to go to court and request an enforcement order against the non-paying parent.
What Happens if I’m not paying Child support?
Once initiated, enforcement measures such as wage garnishment, liens on a property, income tax return interception and license suspensions can begin.
How much overdue child support payment can be considered a felony?
If a non-paying parent owes more than $10,000 or has been overdue for more than two years, then they could face a felony charge.
Can the support debt be forgiven?
The support debt does not have a statute of limitations and they are very rarely forgiven by courts.
Support Order Termination
How do I stop a child support order?
File a support order modification request with the courts.
When Can I Apply for Child Support Termination?
Parents can request child support orders to stop when the child has reached the age of majority, been legally emancipated, gotten married or passed away.
Can the custodial parent close a support case?
Custodial parents can close a support case at any time as long as they are not currently receiving financial assistance through state services.
When Can I Stop Paying the Support?
When the child is 18 and has graduated high school or up to their 20th birthday, has been emancipated or passed away.
The age of majority in Oklahoma is 18-years-old, but this age can be extended up to the child’s 20th birthday when they are still attending high school.
Oklahoma Hearing Rights
In Oklahoma, fathers, mothers, and children all have a right to seek a paternity hearing. Oklahoma believes it is every child’s right to know who their biological parents are and to receive their due financial support from them.
OK Child Support Guidelines
Oklahoma’s child support guidelines provide a basic schedule to help courts allocate an appropriate amount of child support obligation a non-custodial parent should be required to pay. The guidelines take into account the gross income of both parents and the number of children in need of support.
Oklahoma Child Support Coverage
What is the support meant to cover?
Support is meant to cover the costs associated with the custodial parent’s raising of the child. These costs include basic necessities like school supplies, shelter, clothing, food, and medical expenses. The support is meant to offset these expenses.
Does the Support Cover Medical Care Expenses?
Yes. Under Oklahoma statutes, courts are required to establish medical support orders for children who are being entered into Child support orders.
What if Both Parents are working, will the Support Cover child care services?
Yes. The support orders include the non-custodial parent’s basic obligation and the costs of medical care and child care under Oklahoma Child Support laws.
Are Car Maintenance Costs Covered by Child Support?
Most car maintenance costs will not be covered by the support unless the car is the child’s primary form of transportation.
What is Considered Basic Entertainment for Child Support?
Basic entertainment for support purposes means age-appropriate activities for the child’s enjoyment. Such costs may include access to the internet, museum tickets, amusement park admissions, and other activities.
Are College expenses Covered by Child Support?
Currently, Oklahoma law does not require parents to support the child throughout college unless they have an agreement that states otherwise.
Are Extracurricular Activities covered by Support?
In Oklahoma, extracurricular activities intended for the development of the child may be considered a special expense that courts may consider as a deviation to the father’s basic obligation.
Are School Related Costs Covered by Child Support?
Yes, educational expenses and school-related costs are covered in support obligation payments.
Oklahoma Child Support Offices
| Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City South Child Support Office | 2701 S. Harvey Ave. Oklahoma City | OCSS.Contact.SouthOKC@okdhs.org | (800) 522-2922 | http://www.okdhs.org/services/ocss/Pages/default.aspx |
County Child Support Offices in OK
| County name | Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County | Sequoyah County, OK Sallisaw Child Support Office | 500 George Glenn Blvd., Sallisaw, OK 74955 | OCSS.Contact.Sallisaw@okdhs.org | 1(800) 522-2922 | http://www.okdhs.org/services/ocss/pages/sallisaw.aspx |
| Alfalfa County | Major County, OK Fairview Child Support Office | 1425 N. Main, Suite 2, Fairview, OK 73737 | OCSS.Contact.Fairview@okdhs.org | 1(800) 522-2922 | http://www.okdhs.org/services/ocss/pages/fairview.aspx |
| Atoka County | McCurtain County, OK Idabel Child Support Office | 301 N. Central, Idabel, OK 74745 | OCSS.Contact.Idabel@okdhs.org | 1(800) 522-2922 | http://www.okdhs.org/services/ocss/pages/idabel.aspx |