Kentucky child support helps ensure children receive financial help from both parents when families separate or divorce. The state provides systems and services to establish support orders, collect payments, and enforce these orders when needed. Understanding how Kentucky child support works protects your children's rights and helps you meet your legal responsibilities.
How Kentucky Child Support Works
Kentucky child support operates through the Department of Child Support Services, which moved from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the Kentucky Office of Attorney General in July 2025. This department provides assistance to parents and guardians seeking financial support for children.
The system is based on the principle that every child has a legal right to financial support from both parents. This remains true whether parents were married, divorced, separated, or never married at all.
Kentucky uses established guidelines to calculate how much support should be paid. These guidelines consider both parents' incomes, the number of children needing support, and other factors like health insurance costs and childcare expenses.
Who Can Apply for Kentucky Child Support
Any parent or guardian who has physical custody of a child can apply for Kentucky child support services. This includes:
- Divorced parents seeking support from their former spouse
- Never-married parents who need support from the other parent
- Grandparents or other relatives raising children
- Guardians who have legal custody of children
Parents who receive public assistance like KTAP (Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program) automatically get child support enforcement services. The state applies for them to help recover welfare costs and provide additional income.
Parents who do not receive public assistance can still apply for Kentucky child support services. The state helps establish paternity, calculate support amounts, obtain court orders, and collect payments.
Services Provided by Kentucky Child Support
The Department of Child Support Services offers many services to help families:
Establishing Paternity
When parents are not married, the state can help establish who the father is through genetic testing. This legal recognition gives children the right to support from both parents.
Calculating Support Amounts
The state uses Kentucky's child support guidelines to determine fair support amounts based on both parents' incomes and circumstances.
Obtaining Court Orders
Child support enforcement can work with courts to get official orders that require parents to pay support.
Collecting Payments
The state collects support payments from paying parents and distributes them to custodial parents. This includes taking money from paychecks, bank accounts, and other sources when necessary.
Enforcing Orders
When parents don't pay as ordered, child support enforcement can take legal action to collect unpaid support.
How to Apply for Kentucky Child Support
You can apply for Kentucky child support services in several ways:
Online Application
The easiest way is to apply online through the Kentucky Child Support Interactive website. This secure system allows you to submit your application and required documents electronically.
Local Office Visit
You can visit your local child support office in person to apply. Staff can help you complete the application and answer questions about the process.
Mail Application
You can download application forms and mail them to your local child support office along with required documentation.
When applying, you'll need information about yourself, the other parent, and your children. This includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers, employment information, and details about your children's needs.
Kentucky Child Support Guidelines
Kentucky child support is calculated using state guidelines that ensure fair and consistent support amounts. These guidelines are based on research about how much money families typically spend on children.
The calculation considers several factors:
- Both parents' gross monthly income from all sources
- The number of children requiring support
- Health insurance costs for the children
- Childcare expenses necessary for work or school
- Any existing child support obligations for other children
The guidelines produce a basic support obligation that covers children's everyday needs like food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Additional expenses may be added for special circumstances.
Making Kentucky Child Support Payments
Most Kentucky child support is collected through income withholding, where money is automatically taken from the paying parent's paycheck. This ensures consistent payments and reduces conflicts between parents.
Payment Methods Available:
- Automatic payroll deduction (most common)
- Online payments through the Kentucky Child Support website
- Phone payments by calling the child support hotline
- Mail payments to the state disbursement unit
- In-person payments at local offices (varies by location)
Online and phone payments may include small convenience fees. Parents should always include their child support case number with payments to ensure proper credit.
When Child Support Enforcement Takes Action
Child support enforcement has many tools to collect unpaid support when parents don't pay as ordered:
Income and Asset Collection
The state can garnish wages, take money from bank accounts, seize tax refunds, and collect unemployment benefits or worker's compensation payments.
License Actions
Kentucky can suspend driver's licenses, professional licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, and prevent passport applications for parents who owe back support.
Property Actions
The state can place liens on real estate, vehicles, and other property. They can also force the sale of assets to pay child support debts.
Credit Reporting
Unpaid child support is reported to credit bureaus, which damages the non-paying parent's credit score and affects their ability to get loans or credit.
Legal Consequences
Courts can hold non-paying parents in contempt, which may result in fines or jail time for willful non-payment of support.
Modifying Kentucky Child Support
Child support orders can be changed when circumstances change significantly. Either parent can request a review to increase or decrease the support amount.
Common Reasons for Changes:
- Significant changes in either parent's income
- Changes in custody arrangements
- Changes in children's needs or expenses
- Changes in health insurance or childcare costs
The Department of Child Support Services reviews cases automatically every three years for families receiving certain public benefits. Other families can request reviews when their circumstances change substantially.
To qualify for a modification, the new calculated support amount must typically be at least 15% different from the current order. This prevents frequent changes for minor income fluctuations.
Resources and Contact Information
Kentucky child support provides several ways for parents to get help and information:
Phone Support Call the Child Support hotline at (800) 248-1163 for assistance with your case, payment information, or general questions about services.
Online Services The Kentucky Child Support Interactive website offers:
- Case information and payment history
- Online payment options
- Address and contact updates
- Document uploads
- Communication with caseworkers
- Support calculators and forms
Local Offices Each county has local child support staff who can help with cases and answer questions. Contact information for local offices is available on the state website.
Mobile Access A mobile-friendly version of the website allows parents to check basic case information and make payments from smartphones and tablets.
Your Rights and Responsibilities
Both parents have important rights and responsibilities under Kentucky child support law:
Rights of All Parents:
- Fair calculation of support based on current guidelines
- Accurate record-keeping of payments and balances
- Timely processing of support modifications
- Access to case information and payment history
Responsibilities of Paying Parents:
- Make full payments on time as ordered
- Report changes in income, employment, or address
- Maintain health insurance for children when required
- Cooperate with enforcement efforts
Responsibilities of Custodial Parents:
- Provide accurate information about children's needs
- Report changes in custody arrangements
- Use support payments for children's expenses
- Cooperate with paternity establishment when needed
Getting Help with Your Kentucky Child Support Case
If you need assistance with your Kentucky child support case, several resources are available:
- The Department of Child Support Services provides free help with establishing orders, collecting payments, and enforcing support obligations. Their trained staff can answer questions and help resolve problems.
- Legal aid organizations offer free legal services to low-income families dealing with child support issues. These organizations can provide advice and representation in complex cases.
- Private family law attorneys can help with complicated situations or when you need legal representation in court proceedings. Many attorneys offer consultations to discuss your options.
Planning for Your Family's Future
Kentucky child support typically continues until children reach age 18 or graduate from high school, whichever occurs later. Understanding your long-term obligations helps you plan financially for your family's needs.
Parents may choose to make agreements about college expenses or other costs beyond basic child support. These agreements should be included in court orders to ensure they are enforceable.
Keep good records of all child support payments and communications with the child support office. This documentation protects your interests and helps resolve any disputes that may arise.
Remember that child support is about ensuring children have the resources they need to grow and thrive. The Kentucky child support system exists to protect children's rights and help families meet their responsibilities, even when relationships change.
Whether you're seeking support for your children or working to meet your support obligations, understanding how Kentucky child support works helps ensure the best outcomes for everyone involved, especially the children who depend on this financial assistance for their daily needs and future opportunities.