Wyoming Child Support
How to apply for child support in Wyoming
The Wyoming Child Support Program is the agency tasked with handling claims in the state. Applying for support involves a process including establishing paternity for the child and creating support orders. The agency can assist with both of these processes as well as modifying existing orders or helping enforce these crucial court orders. To apply for support, simply fill out an application and return it to the agency. A non-refundable application processing fee will cost $25. Any questions or concerns regarding applying for support should be directed to Jodi Nuss at 307-777-5831 or Jodi.nuss@wyo.gov. Download Forms.
How is Child Support Calculated in Wyoming?
Calculating support in Wyoming involves adhering to a number of official guidelines set out by the state. Support will vary depending on each parent’s income and the number of children in need of support.
How to Claim and Pay Child Support in Wyoming?
Payments can be made with personal checks, money orders or certified checks. Cash may also be used when paying in person, but an exact amount must be presented. To claim support, parents can apply to have their payments directly deposited onto a ReliaCard or their personal accounts.
Child Support Performance Stats for Wyoming
Statistics collected by the WY Child Support Enforcement Division confirm that the total outstanding payments from non-custodial parents exceeds $165,000,000 for the state. About 33 percent of Wyoming families in need are not receiving the payments owed to them.
Can the support be paid off early?
It’s advisable to budget, but it may not be the best idea to attempt to entirely pay off everything early. Circumstances may change that could alter payment amounts in the future.
What Will Happen if You fall Behind the Support Payment?
- Reporting your failure to pay to credit bureaus
- Withholding income
- Withholding federal income tax returns
- Denial of passport
- Lien on bank accounts, property, and vehicles
- Suspension of driver’s, occupational and hunting licenses
Can you get Wyoming alimony and support at the same time?
Yes. Custodial parents may receive both the support and alimony at the same time. Custodial parents can exclude alimony when reporting their net income for the purposes of calculating support payments.
Can you stop the support payments in Wyoming?
You should never stop paying unless the child gets married, becomes emancipated, joins the military, perishes or reaches the age of majority which is 18 in Wyoming.
Child Support and Taxes in Wyoming
The support can make an impact on taxes, and it’s important to distinguish which parent will claim the child on their taxes. Falling behind on support orders can result in a withholding of your tax returns, and it’s typical for the custodial parent to list the children as dependents on their income forms.
Can the WY support payments be claimed on taxes?
Payments are not a taxable income, and they are not tax deductible.
How does my child support affect my taxes in Wyoming?
Paying child support does not mean you can claim the child as a dependent on your taxes. The custodial parent has first priority on claiming the child.
Can child support be taken pre tax?
Payments will be made after income has already been taxed regardless whether they are coming from your tax returns, wages or payments you make yourself.
Can child support Take my federal tax return in Wyoming?
Yes, Wyoming allows federal income tax refunds to be withheld when payments are overdue. If you are making payments on time, then your federal tax return should not be impacted.
Paternity Establishment in Wyoming
Paternity is the legal relationship a father shares with his child. Establishing paternity can provide a father with custodial and visitation rights. It also provides a basis for establishing court-ordered child support. Depending on your individual circumstances, paternity may be assumed, acknowledged or determined by the court.
How do you establish paternity in Wyoming?
When parents of the child are already married, paternity is automatically assumed. Before the birth of the child, unmarried couples can voluntarily acknowledge paternity by signing an agreement. The courts may also establish paternity through courtordered DNA tests.
What rights does a father have if not on the birth certificate?
If the father isn’t on the birth certificate but the parents are married, then paternity is assumed. If parents are unmarried, then the father will need to clarify his rights by establishing paternity through the courtroom.
Can a mother refuse me paternity test?
No. Any man who may be the father of the child has a right to petition the court to establish paternity.
How to establish paternity if the father is deceased?
When the father has perished, it may still be possible to establish paternity through genetic testing.
Can a father get a paternity test without the mother in WY?
Fathers can establish a paternity test without the mother when it is court ordered. Anyone who may be the father of the child has the right to pursue a paternity test.
How long does a father have to establish paternity in Wyoming?
It 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
Once paternity is established, fathers have an obligation to financially provide for the needs of their children until they reach the age of majority. Courts can establish the support orders that require the parent to cover a portion of the costs of raising the youngster. The amount of support required by the court will hinge on each parent’s financial status and the number of children in need of support.
State Child Support orders
When the support has been court ordered, it’s not an option to choose not to make payments. State orders can be enforced in a number of ways, so it’s important to keep making payments on any support orders you have.
Can the support be modified in Wyoming?
Yes, Wyoming courts are willing to reexamine child support orders when circumstances change substantially.
You may qualify for a modification of child support when your order has not been reviewed for the past six months when either party experiences a substantial change in circumstances or three years from the last time the order was reviewed.
How do I file for a modification of child support in WY?
You must file a petition for modification of support with the clerk in the district where your original order was confirmed. You’ll need to pay a fee and bring both parent’s financial information with you.
Can a support order appealed?
While orders may be modified, they can’t be appealed or terminated until the child reaches the age of majority.
Do you need a lawyer to modify the Wyoming Child support?
When you and the other parent can come to an agreement about a modification, it’s likely you won’t even need to have a hearing. If the other parent is uncooperative, then it may be best to hire a legal representative to help fight for your modification requests.
Wyoming 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 in WY?
A parent owed child support payments may request an enforcement action from the court to force payment.
What Happens if I’m not paying the support in Wyoming?
When payments aren’t made, judges may report the late payments to credit bureaus, withhold income, withhold federal income tax returns, suspend licenses and deny the issuing of a passport.
How much overdue child support payment can be considered a felony?
A failure to pay can even become a criminal felony offense if the payment is overdue for over two years or exceeds $10,000.
Can the support debt be forgiven?
The state of Wyoming may forgive child support debt in extreme circumstances, but forgiveness is the exception rather than the rule.
Support Order Termination
How do I stop a support order?
A modification request must be filed with the court.
When Can I Apply for Child Support Termination in WY?
Non-custodial parents can petition for termination when the child has reached the age of 18 and graduated high school, becomes emancipated or perished.
Can the custodial parent close a support case?
The custodial parent must file a request for termination with the court.
When Can I Stop Paying the Wyoming Child Support?
If the child has reached the age of 18 and graduated high school, died or has been emanicipated.
The age of majority in Wyoming is 18 years old.
Wyoming hearing rights
The mother, father and child all have a right to petition the court for an establishment of paternity. Courts can legally order genetic tests to identify the father.
Wyoming Child Support Guidelines and Laws
Guidelines are designed to ensure parents fulfill their financial obligation to meet the needs of their children. Expenses on needs like shelter, food, clothing, basic education and health insurance are included when determining a payment amount.
WY Child Support Coverage
What is the support meant to cover in W?
Child support is intended to cover basic expenses of raising a child such as shelter, food, clothing and educational materials.
Does the Support Cover Medical Care Expenses?
Wyoming child support laws require that medical care expenses are included in support orders. Courts may also determine that any expenses not covered by expenses should be paid by one or both parents.
What if Both Parents are working, will the Support Cover child care services?
Childcare expenses are considered a deviation factor by Wyoming law, so the amount required to cover childcare costs is considered a circumstance in which the court can deviate from prescribed guidelines on support orders.
Are Car Maintenance Costs Covered by the Support?
Transportation costs and other necessary expenses for the child’s benefit, such as a working vehicle, are also considered deviation factors, so this amount may be added onto a child support order.
What is Considered Basic Entertainment for the Support?
Basic entertainment includes a child’s access to television, games, computers and the internet. It may also include visits to amusement parks, movie theaters, camping grounds or other enjoyable activities.
Are College and school expenses Covered by the Support?
In Wyoming, there are no laws that require parents to help support a child through college unless a previous agreement was made between the two parents.
Yes, the basic educational needs of the child, including school-related expenses, are covered by child support orders.
Are Extracurricular Activities covered by Support?
Extracurricular activities are generally not taken into account when creating support orders, but in some cases Wyoming courts may make an exception and include these factors.
Wyoming Child Support Offices
| Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Support Program - DFS | 1510 E Pershing Blvd, Cheyenne, WY | jodi.nuss@wyo.gov | (307)777-5831 | http://dfsweb.wyo.gov/child-support-enforcement |
| Department of Family Services, Child & Home Support Division | 2300 Capitol Avenue Hathaway Building 5th Floor, Suite C Cheyenne, Wyoming | N/A | (307) 777-6948 |
County Child Support Offices in WY
| County name | Institution name | Physical address | Email address | Phone number | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany County | Albany County, WY Child Support Office | 1771 Centennial Drive, Unit 210, Laramie 82072 | N/A | 1(307) 742-2026 | http://dfsweb.wyo.gov/child-support-enforcement/local-child-support-offices-by-county |
| Big Horn County | Big Horn County, WY Child Support Office | 415 W. ?C? St., PO Box 327, Basin 82410 | N/A | 1(307) 568-9329 | http://dfsweb.wyo.gov/child-support-enforcement/local-child-support-offices-by-county |
| Campbell County | Campbell County, WY Child Support Office | 501 Running W. Drive, Gillette 82718 | N/A | 1(307) 687-1501 | http://dfsweb.wyo.gov/child-support-enforcement/local-child-support-offices-by-county |