Child Support

The Wisconsin Support Collections Trust Fund (WI SCTF), also known as KIDS, is the State of Wisconsin's federally mandated state disbursement unit.  All child support related payments, including maintenance, are receipted and disbursed by the WI SCTF, which is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their website provides current payment and collection information. https://www.wisctf.org/WIC/login.asp. 

DEFINING A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER

A Child Support Order is a legal document, signed by a judge presiding in a court which has jurisdiction over one or both parties requiring the payment of child support by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent for the benefit and welfare of the child or children. It may also include provisions for insurance coverage, deductibles, and co-payments, as well as daycare costs and visitation schedules.

OBTAINING A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER

In most cases, a Child Support Order is obtained when one or both parties petition the court for an order, file for legal separation, or file for divorce. In these cases, child support amounts are determined by the Child Support Guidelines, if an agreement between the parties cannot be reached, or if the parties' agreement is less than the amount required by the guidelines.

Child Support amounts agreed to by the parents, without consideration of the Support Guidelines are acceptable; however, any such agreement may only be enforced if it has been submitted to a court of proper jurisdiction, approved, entered, and recorded with the Child Support collection agency. If the child support amount agreed to between the parents falls short of the required amount that would be ordered if the Child Support Guidelines were relied upon, or if the amount is insufficient, the court may not approve the agreement; they may, at the court's discretion, set aside the agreement and enter an order for an amount of support in accordance with Wisconsin’s child support guidelines.

AGE OF EMANCIPATION

A child is emancipated when she or he reaches the age of majority; in Wisconsin, children are considered to be legal adults at the age of 18 years. Child Support payments usually stop when a child is emancipated; however, Wisconsin Law requires that payments continue until the child graduates from high school; in some situations, court orders may require support continue until some other certain event, such as graduation from college or attainment of 21 years of age. More specialized situations, such as the care, custody, and support of a disabled child should be discussed with your attorney directly.