Des MoinesChild Support News Headlines

More Custodial Parents Receive Full Amount of Child Support, Census Bureau Reports

The proportion of custodial parents receiving all the child support payments they were due increased from 34 percent in 1993 to 41 percent in 1997, according to a report released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. Another 27 percent of custodial parents received partial payments in 1997, down from 35 percent in 1993. Overall, two-thirds (67 percent) of custodial parents due child support in 1997 received either full or partial payments, unchanged since 1993. The average amount of child support received by these custodial parents was $3,600, also unchanged since 1993.

"The economic situation of custodial parents showed steady improvement since 1993," said Census Bureau analyst Timothy Grall, author of the report Child Support for Custodial Mothers and Fathers: 1997. "For instance, a greater proportion of custodial parents are working full time now, and the likelihood of living in poverty and participating in public assistance programs has declined."

The proportion of custodial parents with full-time, year-round jobs increased from 46 percent to 51 percent between 1993 and 1997. The poverty rate for custodial parents declined between 1993 and 1997 (from 33 percent to 29 percent) as did the incidence of participating in a public assistance program (from 41 percent to 34 percent).

Our Des Moines child support lawyers know and understand your worries and fears. Let them help you to take control. Contact one of our Des Moines child support lawyers today for a free evaluation of your case.

	Did You Know?
	A parent can order the other parent to pay child support even if they were never married. Child supporty is payable from one parent to the other for a common chi ld, regardless of the marital status of the parents. This is very common in a paternity action, whether or not the issues of parantage, child visitation, child custody, and child support are resolved.