Child Support Letter
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What is a Child Support Letter?
A child support letter is an official notice used by one parent to remind the other to settle a pending child support payment obligation. This document is used to communicate about child support payment due in a polite and concise manner.
A child support letter is also known as a demand letter for child support. This is so because one parent demands from another to contribute their share to a child’s upbringing and care.
A demand letter for child support is being sent by a custodial parent. This is a parent who has sole custody over a child after a couple divorces and with whom a child resides. A non-custodial parent is a parent who is obliged to make regular child support payments in favor of a custodial parent.
Child support payments are being established either by a court order or by an agreement on child support signed by both parents.
The present child support letter can be used either by the mother or by the father to remind their ex-spouse or ex-partner about the due support obligation. A good example of a demand letter for child support should include the following information:
- amount due;
- details of a court order or agreement on child support by which support obligation is established;
- deadline by which a payment should be settled;
- date and signature of a sender.
While neither federal nor state law requires this type of a letter to be sent, having a written proof of child support letter can strengthen your position in case of any potential legal dispute.
How to write a child support letter?
Drafting a child support letter from scratch might be a challenging task. Below we made for you a short list of tips and things to keep in mind while creating your letter.
Put aside emotions
A child support letter from father sample should be drafted in a polite and professional way. As this document might be used in the court in the future, only clear facts should be stated.
Include both parents’ details
The full details of a recipient and a sender should be included. Those details include full name, residential address, and contact phone number or email.
Explain the problem
This is the key part of a demand letter for child support. This is where you have to indicate the total amount of a debt pending, the details of a child support arrangement itself, as well as the last due date by which you are expecting a debt to be settled.
If child support payments are being established based on an agreement on child support, we recommend checking it as well. Some child support agreements may prescribe additional penalties for late child support payments. If this is your case, you can remind the recipient inside the text of the letter about additional penalties.
Last but not least is to inform the recipient directly about potential legal consequences, including a court dispute.
Date and sign
In order for a child support letter to become a legal document, it should be signed and dated by a sender. It does not matter if you sign it by hand or use the e-signature tool available online. Both methods of signing should work.
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Table of content
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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1. Why would I get a letter from child support?
If you are getting a letter about child support, it most probably means that you are past due on child support payments. Child support payments are being established either by a court order or by an agreement on child support between the parents.
As a rule of thumb, child support payments are being paid by a non-custodial parent. This is a parent with whom a child does not live together after a divorce is finalized.
If you are not paying child support payments on time, your ex-partner may initiate a court dispute. It may result in various unpleasant legal consequences for you, including paying additional penalties.
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2. Can I decrease child support payments?
No, child support payments are usually being established either by a court order or by a child support agreement. Therefore, they cannot be changed in a unilateral order.
If child support payments are established by virtue of a court order, in order to change their amount, you have to file a special request to the court to review it.
If child support payments are established based on a child support agreement or child custody agreement, in that case you have to discuss it with another parent. If you both agree on decreasing child support payments, then the existing child support or child custody agreement should be amended in writing to reflect the respective changes.
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