How to Demand Child Support Payments in Missouri
One of the hardest things you'll ever have to do as a parent is raise a child without support. You must demand child support payments to cater for all childcare expenses.
is not easy. Besides legal fees, and complex and tedious procedures, you have to wait days or weeks to process your case. DoNotPay eliminates all the hassle and makes it easier for you to get child support by helping you file a demand letter in minutes.
How to Demand Child Support Payments on Your Own
Asking for child support payments on your own is not a walk in the park. The process is tedious and emotionally draining. There are two ways you can demand child support payments:
| Negotiate With Your Co-Parent | Getting in the same room with an ex can be a hectic experience for most parents, but it is necessary to agree on child support payments. If need be, involve a third party to help keep you both neutral and focus on the child's well-being while negotiating. |
| Sue for Child Support | In cases where the non-custodial parent refuses to chip in, you have the choice to sue them in court for child maintenance. Whether you are going through a divorce or have never been married before, you must get a child support order enforced by the courts. Child maintenance fees are determined depending on each parent's income.
The steps for suing for child support are as follows:
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How Are Child Support Payments Calculated in Missouri?
Missouri judges determine child support amounts based on proportional income and the amount each parent would have spent raising the child if the parents were living together.
There are three steps involved when calculating child support using the income shares model:
- Identify Income
- Identify Basic Parental Obligation
- Make Physical Case Adjustments
Missouri Child Support Calculator
Step One: Identify Income
List the monthly income for each parent then calculate the total combined monthly income (I) then identify the percentage that each parent contributes to that value (p1 and P2).
| Obligee/Custodial Parent | Obligor/Non-Custodial Parent | |
| Monthly Income (i1) | Monthly Income (i2) | Combined Monthly Income (I=(i1+i2)) |
| Contribution to Income Income (p1=i1/I) | Contribution to Income Income (p1=i1/I) |
Step Two: Identity Basic Parental Obligation
In order to calculate how much each parent would spend raising a child, use an expenditures table like the example below to list the associated costs of raising a child in Missouri. Then sum the total expenditures (e) and multiply that by the number of children shared (n) for the total parental obligation (O).
| Ordinary Expenses Associated With Raising Children |
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| Medical Insurance |
|
| Childcare |
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| Extraordinary Medical Expenses |
|
Once you have the sum of all expenditures, multiply that total by the percentage (as a decimal) each parent contributes to the monthly income in order to assign basic parental obligation.
| Obligee/Custodial Parent | Obligor/Non-Custodial Parent | |
| Monthly Income | Monthly Income | Combined Monthly Income (I) |
| % of Combined Income (p1) | % of Combined Income (p2) | |
| Total Basic Parental Obligation (O=en) | ||
| Obligee Parental Obligation (b1=O(p1)) | Obligor Parental Obligation (b2=O(p1)) |
Step Three: Make Physical Care Adjustments
Because the expenses of raising a child in two households are often duplicated, the basic child support obligation must be multiplied by 1.5 to account for the associated costs. Then, each parent’s proportional amount of the shared physical care obligation is multiplied by the percentage of time the other parent spends with the child.
The respective child support obligations are offset, with the parent owing more child support paying the difference between the child support amounts.
| Obligee/Custodial Parent | Obligor/Non-Custodial Parent | |
| Monthly Income (i1) | Monthly Income (i2) | Combined Monthly Income (I=(i1+i2)) |
| Contribution to Income Income (p1=i1/I) | Contribution to Income Income (p1=i1/I) | |
| Total Basic Parental Obligation (O=en) | ||
| Obligee Basic Parental Obligation (b1=O(p1)) | Obligor Basic Parental Obligation (b2=O(p1)) | |
| % of Custodial Time (t1) | % of Custodial Time (t2) | Shared Physical Care Adjustment (A=O(1.5)) |
| % of Custodial Time (t1) | % of Custodial Time (t2) | |
| Obligee Child Support Obligation (s1=A(t1)) | Obligor Child Support Obligation (s2=A(t2)) | Total Child Support Owed by Obligor (S=s2-s1) |
How Are Child Support Payments Enforced in Missouri?
The Family Support Division is responsible for enforcing all laws regarding child support payments. The division uses an administrative process to enforce child support payments by:
- Filing contempt of court against an uncooperative parent
- Establishing parentage
- Changing or modifying existing child support orders
- Ensuring parents who live outside the state pay child support as they are supposed to
- Collecting and distributing child support payments
- Setting up financial and medical support for the child
- Suspending the other parent's licenses
How Do Child Support Cases Work in Missouri?
If you want to get from the non-custodial parent, you need to file a case with the state. Before the courts make any decisions concerning child maintenance, the custodial parents must first fill out an application form providing a clear picture of their financial situation.
Keep in mind that either parent can demand for child support. There are two methods of applying for child maintenance; by online application or by mail.
1. Apply for Child Support Online
Visit the website of the Missouri Department of Social Services Family Support Division and fill in the child support application form. Pay the fees and submit the application.
2. Apply for Child Support via Mail or Fax Application
You can download the child support application form from the website, fill it out and then submit it by mail or fax or email to the following address:
| Address | Family Support Division PO Box 6790 Jefferson City, MO 65102 |
| Fax | 573-635-7545 |
| FSD.CS.Documents@dss.mo.gov |
It will take 20 days for your application to be processed. Once the processing starts, you will receive confirmation that the child support case has begun.
The judge will consider the standard of living before and after divorce, then decide in the child's best interest.
About Missouri Child Support Service
Missouri child support services is an agency that is responsible for enforcing all child support orders. The agency falls under the Family Service Division, and it is responsible for providing child maintenance services to custodial, non-custodial parents, custodians, and alleged fathers.
How to Demand Child Support Payments With the Help of DoNotPay
Demanding for child maintenance fees through state agencies is a challenging task. DoNotPay is a better alternative as it helps simplify the child support application process.
If you want to file a demand letter for late child support payments but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 3 easy steps:
- Search child support on DoNotPay and enter the details of the person who owes the payments.
- Tell us more about the payment schedule, including the amount and frequency of the payments, the last payment they made and number of missed payments, and how much they owe you in total.
- Confirm your contact information and select whether you want us to mail or email the letter on your behalf. Choose how you would like to receive the payment and verify your signature.
Why Use DoNotPay to Demand Child Support Payments?
If you find yourself in a situation where you need child support from your co-parent, then you should demand it. is not easy. You will have to go through different channels, including hiring an attorney, which can put a dent in your finances and take away a lot of your time. However, with DoNotPay, you don't have to do much, all you have to do is log in to the account, provide the necessary information, and we will generate the right paperwork for your case.