The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office staffs a IV-D Child Support Division for the purpose of establishing and enforcing child support obligations.
The Social Security Act (Title IV-D) requires states to develop programs to establish paternity and collect child support orders. The State of Indiana contracts with county prosecutors’ offices to provide these services. The Child Support Division also establishes orders for health insurance where appropriate, and regularly deals with other issues related to child support – such as modification of support, emancipation, locating absent parents, reviewing and adjusting support orders, support in foster care cases, collection of medical reimbursement for parents, and criminal felony nonsupport cases.
The Child Support Division represents the State of Indiana and must act “in the best interests of the child.” The Child Support Program does not represent either parent and cannot give you legal advice or act as your private attorney. The program cannot be involved in non-child support issues such as property settlement in a divorce, child custody, or parenting time (visitation) issues.
Background
In 1975, Congress enacted legislation that required each state to establish a program to enforce child support obligations as a condition of receiving federal funds. The program is often referred to as the Title IV-D Program because Title IV, Part D of the 1975 Social Security Act created the Child Support Program.
The Title IV-D grogram was designed to recover costs of state and federal public assistance and cost avoidance in order to help families who no longer need or avoid seeking public assistance (formerly Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and currently Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Today, however, the focus has changed from one of cost recovery to securing and distributing money to families.
Anyone can receive services for child support collection - regardless of whether they receive TANF benefits - by submitting an application through the Indiana Department of Child Services website OR by submitting an application with the Madison County Prosecutor's Office.
MCPO Services Include:
(1) Location of parents
(2) Establishment of paternity
(3) Establishment of child support orders
(4) Establishment and enforcement of medical support orders
(5) Collection, accounting, & distribution of support
(6) Enforcement of support orders
(7) Modifications of support orders
Continue reading below for additional information and useful links.
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Nona
Email NonaEstablishment Caseworker
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Kiara
Email KiaraCalculations Caseworker
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Vacant
IV-D Secretary
Emancipation Information
Generally, when a child turns 19 years old, the child is emancipated by operation of law, and the non-custodial parent's obligation to pay current support terminates. The following exceptions permit the court to order that child support continue beyond the child’s 19th birthday. For child support to continue, a court order recognizing the exception is required prior to the child’s emancipation in either case where:
- The child is incapacitated; or
- The child is a full-time high school student.
Prior to turning 19 years old, judicial action (a court order) is required to terminate support. The court shall emancipate a child prior to the age of 19 years if the court finds that the child:
- Marries; or
- Goes on active duty status with the U.S. Military; or
- The child is not under the care or control of either parent or an individual or agency approved by the court
The court may terminate a non-custodial parent's support obligation, with or without emancipating the child, if the court finds all of the following circumstances exist:
- The child is at least 18 years of age; and
- The child has not attended a secondary school or postsecondary educational institution for the prior four months; and
- Is not enrolled in a secondary school or post-secondary educational institution; and
- The child is, or is capable of, supporting himself or herself through employment
In order for a court to terminate a child support order prior to 19 years old, a petition must be filed with the court. If a non-custodial parent owes any arrearage at the point when the order for child support terminates, he or she will still be required to pay the arrearage.
If 2 or more children are covered by a child support order and one child is emancipated, the amount of the child support order is NOT automatically reduced. The parties must seek a modification of the court order to determine the new amount of support for the remaining child (ren).
