Distribution Explanation for Multiple Orders

On October 1, 2009, the Family Support Division (FSD) changed the way past–due support payments are distributed among multiple orders for a noncustodial parent. FSD made the change to be more consistent with federal regulations and state law. The result is a more equitable division of payments among all of a noncustodial parent’s orders, based on how much is owed for each individual order.

The below provides an explanation of how child support payments are distributed when a noncustodial parent is responsible for paying support on more than one order.

1. If the payment is not large enough to cover current support for all orders, the payment is divided among the orders, based on the amount of current support owed for each order. The order with the largest current support amount receives the largest share of the payment.
2. If the payment is only enough to cover current support for all orders, the payment is credited to current support for each order.
3. If the payment is more than the amount of current support owed for all orders, the excess payment amount is credited to past–due support owed on all the orders.
4. The amount credited to past–due support is divided among all of the orders based on the amount of past–due support owed for each order. The order with the largest past–due payment amount gets the largest share of the excess amount.