Oregon Child Support
How to Apply for Child Support in Oregon
Are you looking for information regarding how to apply for the support in Oregon? Child support services in Oregon are available for parents and any caretakers or relatives who may have physical custody of a child. Some important steps must be taken in order to get the application process started. These steps include establishing paternity, locating the non-custodial parent and determining the amount of support that might be past due. Applications can be obtained at your local support office or online. A one-time processing fee of $1 is applied when an application is submitted. That fee is deducted from the first support payment that is collected. Download Forms.
How to Calculate Child Support in Oregon?
Oregon uses a specific formula to determine the amount of support that is owed. The formula takes into account the gross monthly income of each parent, the amount of spousal support owed to each parent by anyone, the amount of spousal support each parent owes to anyone and the union dues of each parent. That information is then weighed against the amount of time each parent spends with a child, the total that is spent on childcare costs, the number of benefits paid to a child and child-related healthcare costs.
How to Claim and Pay Child Support?
Most parents in Oregon make support payments via payroll deductions. Payments can also be made in person, at a kiosk, online or using electronic payments from a bank account. Cash, checks, credit cards and electronic payments are all accepted. Recipients receive disbursements via direct deposit into a bank account or using a ReliaCard.
Child Support Performance Stats for Oregon
The Child Support Program's performance is rated at 91 percent based on information provided by the Oregon Department of Justice.
Statistics for Regular On-Time Payments Collection
Other Incentive Performance Measures
| Performance Measures | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide Paternity Establishment (%) | 94.8 | 95.52 | 99.94 | 98.64 | 98.68 |
| IV-D Paternity Establishment (%) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Support Order Establishment (%) | 76.61 | 74.1 | 76.87 | 83.68 | 86.51 |
| Cost-Effectiveness ($) | 5.48 | 5.41 | 5.18 | 4.5 | 3.44 |
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 ($) | 349.47 | 353.04 | 357.38 | 354.42 | 359.71 |
| Total Distributed to Families ($) | 322.71 | 327.48 | 330.76 | 331.58 | 336.01 |
| Total Administrative Expenditures ($) | 68.43 | 69.8 | 73.67 | 84.22 | 111.97 |
Average Collections per Case with Collections
Can the support be paid off early?
Parents in Oregon have the option to pay off child support early. However, it is not always advisable because circumstances can cause the payment amounts that are owed to change.
What Will Happen if You fall Behind the Support Payment?
- Garnished income
- Property liens
- Suspended driver’s license
- Suspended passport
- Reported to credit rating agencies
- Contempt of court
Can you get alimony and support at the same time?
Yes. Support payments do not cancel out alimony payments. Alimony payments are considered income and are taxable. Support payments are not considered income and are not taxable.
Can you stop the support payments?
Support payments cannot be stopped unless a child has reached the age of 18, been adopted out of a family or a parent has terminated their parental responsibilities or rights.
Child Support and Taxes
Support is not considered income in Oregon or on a federal level. That means that support payments cannot be taxed.
Can the support payments be claimed on taxes in Oregon?
Support payments are not tax deductible in Oregon.
How does my child support affect my taxes in Oregon?
Support payments essentially don’t have any impact on taxes in Oregon. However, the person making payments may be able to claim a child as a dependent when filing taxes.
Can child support be taken pre-tax?
Support is paid after income has already been taxed. There is no program in Oregon that allows parents to make pre-tax child support payments.
Can child support Take my federal tax return?
Your federal tax return can be confiscated if you owe back payments of child support. This is called a tax refund seizure. The IRS will give the money to Oregon’s enforcement office.
Paternity Establishment
Paternity establishment in Oregon is used to obtain a support order for a child. It is also used to obtain an order for healthcare coverage or funds for medical support.
How do you establish paternity?
Any Oregon court can review the paternity genetic test and issue a judgment or the fatherhood can be established at the hospital after the child's birth if both parents are agreeable.
What rights does a father have if not on birth certificate?
A father essentially has no legal rights if his name is not listed on a birth certificate. This means that a father will not have rights to custody or visitation.
Can a mother refuse me paternity test?
A father has the right to file a paternity case if he is not listed on the birth certificate. A mother cannot refuse a paternity test if it is ordered by the court.
How to establish paternity if the father is deceased?
A court can still try to establish paternity even if a father is deceased. DNA from a family member can be used to establish paternity in a case like this.
Can a father get a paternity test without the mother?
The Division of Child Support or any court may review genetic parentage tests that have been completed and issue a judgment establishing paternity.
How long does a father have to establish paternity in Oregon?
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
Establishing paternity is the first step to obtaining support in Oregon. It will then be time to establish an order for the support. It is important to know that orders may require modifications or be subject to appeals between the time a support order is established and when a child turns 18.
State Child Support Orders
Support orders are legally binding documents that establish and define the terms of support payments.
Can the support be modified?
Support can be modified in Oregon when physical custody or the needs of the child or the income of either parent has changed.
Parents may request modifications in Oregon once an order has been in place for at least 35 months.
How do I file for a modification of child support?
The parent requesting a modification must use the forms provided by the Child Support Program. The Child Support Program will then review the request and send it to the other parent. An order is then created. An order will be finalized 34 days after it is served if neither parent contacts the Child Support Program within 30 days of receiving the order.
Can a support order appealed?
Orders can be appealed through a hearing.
Do you need a lawyer to modify the support?
While a parent is not legally required to use a lawyer to modify support, seeking legal aid is generally recommended.
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?
Notify the Child Support Program that child support payments are not being made to initiate enforcement actions.
What Happens if I’m not paying the support?
The Oregon Child Support program will attempt to collect funds using all legal means if a parent stops paying support. This can include contacting an employer and garnishing wages. An offender may also have their personal and professional licenses taken away. Tax refunds may also be withheld.
How much overdue child support payment can be considered a felony?
Support payments that are overdue by more than two years or that exceed $10,000 amount to a criminal felony. Offenders who are convicted could face steep fines and up to two years in prison.
Can the support debt be forgiven?
The Child Support Program may settle debts for less than full payment if a parent can prove substantial hardship or if a compromise will result in greater collections.
Support Order Termination
How do I stop a child support order?
File a request for support order termination with the court.
When Can I Apply for the Support Termination?
A parent can apply for support termination once a child turns 18.
Can the custodial parent close a support case?
Yes, the custodial parent can request support order termination at any time. A parent will need to submit a written request to modify a support order if they wish to close a case.
When Can I Stop Paying the Support?
Support can be terminated if a child is no longer in custody of the custodial parent or if a child is legally emancipated.
18 is the age of majority in Oregon.
Oregon hearing rights
Parents in Oregon have a right to a hearing if they wish to establish paternity, establish support, modify support or determine the amount of debt that is owed.
OR Child Support Guidelines
Judges in Oregon are able to order one or both parents in a case to pay the support. Specific guidelines are used to determine how much support is necessary for each child. The courts in Oregon take into account the income of both parents and the amount of time each parent spends with a child when coming up with a monthly payment amount.
OR Child Support Coverage
What is the support meant to cover?
The support is meant to cover all of the essentials that a child needs. This includes things like food, clothing, and shelter. In addition, things like childcare expenses, visitation travel costs, and extracurricular activities are factored in when determining a monthly payment amount.
Does the Support Cover Medical Care Expenses?
A separate healthcare coverage order is created when a parent is required to keep a child insured. However, unpaid medical bills can be factored in when determining basic support totals.
What if Both Parents are working, will the Support Cover child care services?
The cost of childcare is used to help determine the monthly amount of support that is owed.
Are Car Maintenance Costs Covered by the Support?
Support may be used to cover the cost of maintaining a vehicle that is used to transport a child.
What is Considered Basic Entertainment for Child Support?
Support in Oregon typically covers age-appropriate forms of entertainment for a child. This can include access to computers and the Internet. It can also include games and television programs. Support can also be used to pay for tickets to movie theaters, entry to amusement parks and camping fees.
Are College and School expenses Covered by the Support?
Support can be used to cover college expenses until a child turns 21.
Costs related to education and educational supplies are covered under Oregon child support laws.
Are Extracurricular Activities covered by Support?
Extracurricular activities are covered by support in Oregon.
Useful links
Oregon Child Support Offices
| Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Department of Justice : Child Support | 4600 25th Ave. NE, Ste. 180 Salem | TEAD@doj.state.or.us | 503-986-2518 | https://www.doj.state.or.us/child-support |
County Child Support Offices in OR
| County name | Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker County | Baker County, OR Child Support Enforcement Office | 1995 3rd St., Baker City, OR 97814 | N/A | 1(541) 523-6414 | http://www.bakercounty.org/da/child_support.html |
| Benton County | Linn County, OR Oregon Department of Justice - Albany Division of Child Support | 1245 Clay St. SE, Albany, OR 97322 | AlbanyCustomerService@doj.state.or.us | 1(541) 967-2028 | https://www.co.benton.or.us/da/page/child-support-enforcement |
| Clackamas County | Clackamas County, OR Family Support Division - Child Support Program | 707 Main St, Suite 324, Oregon City, OR 97045 | N/A | 1(503) 655-8469 | https://www.clackamas.us/da/familysupport.html |
Download Child support Forms for Oregon
| Title | Number |
|---|---|
| Application for Child Support Services | CSF 03 0574 |
| Child Support Grievance Form | CSF 01 8643 |
| Uniform Income and Expense Statement | CSF 01 0100 |
| Statement of Financial Condition for Individuals | CSF 01 0100A |
| Application for Establishing Paternity Only | CSF 03 0574P |