Pennsylvania Leads the Nation in Child Support Collections

By Sheryl Rentz on August 29, 2011

According to a press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Pennsylvania ranks first in the United States regarding the percentage of child support collected. August is nationally designated as Child Support Enforcement Awareness Month, making this news all the more relevant.

Secretary Gary Alexander stated, “Pennsylvania is clearly out in front, making sure parents fulfill their financial obligations to their children. When parents are held accountable, it helps make certain children can thrive and develop to their fullest potential.”

Pennsylvania is the only state in the U.S. that meets or exceeds all five standards set by the federal government in determining how effective each state’s child support enforcement program is. Those five standards are the following:

1. Determining a child’s paternity
2. Instituting child support orders through local courts
3. Collecting current monthly child support payments
4. Collecting past-due child support payments
5. Being cost-effective when collecting child support payments

Notably, the state collects $5.68 in child support for every dollar spent in administrative-related expenses. In contrast, the national average is $4.86 for every administrative dollar spent.

Whether you are looking for legal assistance to obtain the child support that you are legally owed, you need support implementing a child support contract between yourself and other party, or you are behind on your child support payments, The Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz can help. Divorce laws and child support payment calculations can be quite complicated, and our child support lawyers in Chester County have many years of experience handling all types of cases related to these family law issues. Call our law offices today at 610-645-0100 to learn more about the legal options available to you, based upon the specifics of your circumstances. We can help.