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Paternity and Child Support Law in Iowa A Guide to How Courts Determine Child Support in Iowa Visit our Website for More Self-Help Resources iowalegalaid.org IMPORTANT NOTICE: READ THIS INFORMATION BEFORE USING ANY PART OF THIS BOOKLET This booklet is a general summary of the law. It is not meant to completely explain the subjects in this booklet. IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. The information in this booklet was correct as of the date it was printed (see the back cover). The laws may have changed. DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOKLET IS NOW CORRECT. You should see a lawyer to get complete, correct, and up-todate legal advice. Do not rely on the general information in this booklet for your specific case. If you need a lawyer but can’t afford one, contact Iowa Legal Aid. You may be able to get free legal help. Call or write Iowa Legal Aid. The address and phone numbers are on the back cover. AS YOU READ THIS BOOKLET, REMEMBER IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. Contents INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... 5 THE CHILD SUPPORT RECOVERY UNIT............................................................................5 What Does the Child Support Recovery Unit Do?.................................................................... 5 Can People Contact the Child Support Recovery Unit If They Are Not on Public Assistance (Family Investment Program/FIP or Medical Assistance)?............................ 5 CSRU Fees for Non-FIP Cases............................................................................................................ 6 What Does the Parent Owe the Department of Human Services Once Public Assistance is Received for the Child?......................................................................................... 6 How Does the State Keep Track of Support Payments?......................................................... 6 ESTABLISHMENT OF PATERNITY.......................................................................................6 What If the Mother Won’t Reveal the Father’s Name?............................................................. 6 What Happens After the Mother Suggests a Father?.............................................................. 6 What If He Doesn’t Think He Is the Father?................................................................................. 7 What Will Happen If He Ignores the Notice and Fails to Contact CSRU?.......................... 7 How Much Does It Cost To Get the Genetic Tests?................................................................... 7 How Are the Tests Done?................................................................................................................... 7 What Will the Tests Show?................................................................................................................. 7 How Accurate Are the Tests?............................................................................................................ 8 How Long Does It Take to Get Results?........................................................................................ 8 Can the Test Results Be Challenged?............................................................................................. 8 Are Genetic Tests the Only Way to Establish Paternity?.......................................................... 8 What If the Genetic test Shows That He Is the Father or What If the Man Does Not Contest Paternity?............................................................................................................................. 8 Can Paternity Be Disestablished? ................................................................................................. 8 ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT ORDERS..........................................................................9 What If Paternity Is Not An Issue?................................................................................................... 9 What If the Parent Gets a Notice of Support Debt from CSRU?........................................... 9 Sample Letter to Child Support Recovery Unit......................................................................... 9 Sample Letter Regarding Paternity..............................................................................................10 Is the Non-Custodial Parent (Debtor or Obligor) Entitled to a Hearing?........................10 What If the Notice Is Ignored?.......................................................................................................11 How Is the Amount of Child Support Determined?..............................................................11 What if the parents share custody?.............................................................................................12 What is Considered “Income”?.......................................................................................................13 How Does CSRU Calculate Accrued Support?.........................................................................13 What is Medical Support?...............................................................................................................13 How is “cost” defined?.......................................................................................................................13 3 Can the custodial parent be required to buy health insurance?.......................................13 How is the insurance premium paid? .......................................................................................14 What if “reasonable” cost insurance is not available to either parent? ...........................14 Are there any exceptions to having to pay Cash Medical Support?................................14 What If the Noncustodial Parent Is 19 Years Old or Younger?............................................14 FOSTER CARE..................................................................................................................... 14 Do Parents Have To Pay Support If the Child Is In Foster Care?.........................................14 HOW CHILD SUPPORT IS ENFORCED............................................................................ 15 What If the Non-Custodial Parent Won’t Pay?..........................................................................15 How Much Can Be Withheld?.........................................................................................................15 1) Challenges to Income Withholding................................................................................16 2) Garnishment...........................................................................................................................16 3) Seek Work Orders..................................................................................................................16 4) Administrative Levy.............................................................................................................16 5) Contempt of Court...............................................................................................................17 6) License Sanctions.................................................................................................................17 7) Reports to Credit Bureaus..................................................................................................17 8) Centralized Employee Registry........................................................................................17 9) Tax Refund Intercept............................................................................................................18 Are There Other Ways to Collect Child Support?....................................................................18 What If the Children Are No Longer Minors?...........................................................................18 MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS......................................................................... 18 Review and Adjustment of Child Support Orders..................................................................18 Administrative Modification...........................................................................................................19 What if the Parent Paying Support Becomes Disabled?.......................................................19 Suspension and Reinstatement of Support..............................................................................19 Petition to Modify Support.............................................................................................................20 Motion to Release Support Judgment .....................................................................................20 What If More Than One State is Involved?.................................................................................20 Where Is the Law On Child Support Found?............................................................................20 Where Can I Find Out More About the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU)?............21 How Do I Contact the Child Support Recovery Unit?...........................................................21 Offices, Addresses and Service Areas..................................................................................21 Obligation to Provide Information...............................................................................................22 GLOSSARY OF CHILD SUPPORT AND PATERNITY TERMS.......................................... 24 Motion to Quash/Change Income Withholding Order.........................................................25 Information Form...............................................................................................................................27 Child Support Guidelines................................................................................................................29 4 INTRODUCTION Children whose parents do not live together should still get support from both of them. Either the State of Iowa or custodial parent can get an order setting how much support the non-custodial parent must pay to the custodial parent. If the parent without custody does not pay this support voluntarily, there are ways to force payment. Orders for child support are issued by a judge or by the Child Support Recovery Unit. Orders issued by a judge most often occur in a divorce. A general booklet on divorce called Divorce Law in Iowa is available from Iowa Legal Aid. Contact Iowa Legal Aid at the address or phone number on the back cover if you want to get a copy. Support orders may also arise when a marriage is annulled or a couple separates. Support can be ordered when domestic abuse injunctions are issued and through paternity actions. Once the order has been obtained, it can be enforced by the parent who is owed support. It can also be enforced by the State of Iowa, usually through the Child Support Recovery Unit. THE CHILD SUPPORT RECOVERY UNIT The Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) is an office of the Department of Human Services. Their purpose is to help establish support orders and collect child support payments. What Does the Child Support Recovery Unit Do? The CSRU can provide the following services: 1) Help locate an absent parent or anyone else who has to support the child of the custodial parent. 2) Help prove paternity and get a court order for support. 3) Help get support payments that a court has already ordered. 4) Help get income from a non-custodial parent to pay any money owed to the Department of Human Services or to a household not on public assistance. 5) Modify and suspend child support orders. Can People Contact the Child Support Recovery Unit If They Are Not on Public Assistance (Family Investment Program/FIP or Medical Assistance)? Yes. By law, CSRU must make its child support and paternity determination services available to all households. The parent does not have to be on the Family Investment Program or “FIP.” (FIP used to be called the ADC Program). If CSRU refuses to help, or says there will be a long delay, contact a lawyer. If the parent cannot afford a lawyer, he or she may be able to get free legal help from Iowa Legal Aid. 5 CSRU Fees for Non-FIP Cases Fees are charged by the Child Support Recovery Unit. An application fee may be charged. The parent may also have to pay other fees to cover the actual costs to collect the support and determine paternity. What Does the Parent Owe the Department of Human Services Once Public Assistance is Received for the Child? People who get Public Assistance agree to assign (meaning to give) to the Department of Human Services all right to child support owed. The amount of the assignment is limited to the amount of public assistance paid to the child’s family. How Does the State Keep Track of Support Payments? Support to Public Assistance households must be sent to the Collection Services Center in Des Moines. Support to non-Public Assistance households may be sent either to the Collection Services Center or to the County Clerk of Court. It depends on whether CSRU is enforcing the support order and whether there is an income withholding order in place. If there is an income withholding order, payments must go to the Collection Services Center. If not, payments go to the Clerk of Court. If the money is paid directly to the custodial parent instead of the Collection Services Center or to the Clerk of Court, it is not credited as paid. Therefore, the noncustodial parent should not pay the custodial parent directly. ESTABLISHMENT OF PATERNITY Paternity is often established through marriage or “by operation of law.” This means that the husband is automatically the father of every child his wife gives birth to. Even if the husband and wife are separated or if the wife admits her husband is not the father, he will still be considered the dad. If the parents are not married, paternity is established by court order or affidavit. Many paternity actions are private actions, that is, the mother of the child can sue the man she believes to be the father. However, this booklet deals with paternity actions where the state is involved. It is about cases where the State of Iowa is suing the possible father. The State is trying to get money for expenses and support of a child who gets “FIP” (Family Investment Program) benefits or medical assistance. FIP used to be called Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Paternity actions often begin when a parent who does not get child support contacts the Department of Human Services to apply for FIP or Medical Assistance. These payments are then sent to the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU). The mother must usually give the name of the father (if known) or the names of several men who could be the father. What If the Mother Won’t Reveal the Father’s Name? A mother may have good cause reasons for not revealing who the father is. However, if the mother cannot prove good cause, the mother could be charged with “failure to cooperate” and lose her FIP (but not the child’s). What Happens After the Mother Suggests a Father? Once the mother has given the CSRU the father’s name (or several names), the CSRU will serve each man a Notice of Alleged Paternity and Support Debt. The man can do one of two things at this point. If he believes that he is the father, he can admit paternity. He can work out support payments and any other related issues. To work out support payments, he can request a conference with CSRU and/or a hearing. On the other hand, if he does not think that he is the father, he can challenge it. 6 What If He Doesn’t Think He Is the Father? If the man does not believe that he is the father, he needs to tell this to CSRU and request a genetic test. He must contact the CSRU in writing within 20 days after receiving the original Notice of Alleged Paternity. (See sample letter on page 10). CSRU will then arrange for the test to be done. An order will be entered requiring the mother, the child and the alleged father to submit to genetic testing. There will be only one chance to reschedule the testing appointment. If you cannot go to the appointment, be sure and contact CSRU beforehand to reschedule. The test results will be mailed to the alleged father. A conference can also be requested to discuss paternity but it is important not to miss the 20day deadline to deny paternity. What Will Happen If He Ignores the Notice and Fails to Contact CSRU? Most alleged fathers do contact CSRU. IF HE DOES NOT ANSWER (meaning respond within the time stated in the notice), HIS PATERNITY IS ESTABLISHED BY DEFAULT. That means the court will rule that he is the father because he did not deny it. He can challenge the default by filing with the Clerk of Court a written application to set aside the default within 60 days. After the 60 days, there is another court proceeding (called “disestablishment.” See the next page) that can be started as long as the child is not 18 years old. If he wants to challenge the default order, he should contact an attorney immediately. Do not ignore the notice or paternity will be established by default. If this happens, CSRU will enter an administrative order for support. The order will state an amount of monthly support to be paid and an amount of past due support. Also, at this point, income, wages, driver licenses and property can be taken. This means that the state can take and even sell personal property to help pay the child support. Read all notices carefully. Pay attention to all deadlines. Keep copies of all papers sent by you or CSRU. How Much Does It Cost To Get the Genetic Tests? If the man cannot afford to pay for the tests, the state will advance the costs for the tests. He has to sign a sworn statement about why he can’t pay the costs of the genetic tests. If the tests show that he is the father of the child, he will be required to pay the costs for the test. The costs are usually around $600. How Are the Tests Done? Most communities specify a place where genetic samples are taken. Some Child Support Recovery Unit locations are equipped to take samples. Genetic samples can be obtained from blood or tissue. One of the most common ways is using a cotton swab to take a sample of cells from inside the person’s mouth. The samples are then sent to approved test laboratories. What Will the Tests Show? The tests used to determine paternity are scientific and accurate. The testers look at many factors to determine genetic makeup. The tests will show one of two things: 1. It is genetically impossible for an alleged father to be the true father, or 2. There is some chance (for example 91.2% or 96.8%) that the alleged father is the father. If the chance of paternity is 95% or more, the alleged father is “presumed” (meaning assumed) to be the father. This “presumption of paternity” means that, in most cases, the judge will rule the alleged father is the father based on the test alone. The judge could rule that the man is not the father if there is “clear and convincing evidence” to prove it. The alleged father has only 20 days to challenge a test. The 20 days start on the date the test results are filed at the courthouse. To challenge the results, a written notice challenging them has to be filed with the Clerk of Court. 7 If the genetic test shows a less than 95% chance the alleged father is the father, the judge may still find him to be the father. The judge must look at all the evidence including the test to decide if he is the father. In this case, the alleged father also has 20 days to challenge the test. No matter what the probability of paternity is, the alleged father (or mother or CSRU) can ask the judge for another genetic test. The judge must order another genetic test if the request for another test is reasonable. How Accurate Are the Tests? Thanks to scientific developments, the accuracy of genetic tests has greatly improved. The test results will be filed with the Clerk of Court, and the man will be sent a copy, too. How Long Does It Take to Get Results? Results are usually reported within four to six weeks. Can the Test Results Be Challenged? Yes. But the objection must be filed in writing with the court within 20 days after the test results were mailed and advance payment for additional testing must be made. A hearing will then be held in district court to resolve the issue of paternity. Are Genetic Tests the Only Way to Establish Paternity? No. If the parents were not married to each other at the time of the conception and birth, they can sign an Affidavit of Paternity. The only form that can be used is the one by the Iowa Department of Public Health. The form is a sworn and notarized statement that the man is the biological father. The hospital and the Clerk of Court will have the forms. The Affidavits have the same effect as a judge’s decision, which means the father can be ordered to pay child support without any genetic testing. The father should not sign the affidavit unless he is sure he is the father. It is possible to rescind or cancel a paternity affidavit. This must be done by filing a signed form with the state registrar. It must be filed either 60 days from when the affidavit was signed or before entry of a court order in a case involving the child, whichever comes first. Either parent can file the rescission. There may be a fee to file it. Filing the rescission will take the father’s name off the birth certificate. What If the Genetic test Shows That He Is the Father or What If the Man Does Not Contest Paternity? If the genetic tests show that he is the father, or if the man agrees that he is the father, he can meet with CSRU and/or request a hearing (see below). This meeting is called a conference and must be requested within certain time frames. The CSRU will ask him for financial information. CSRU will then tell him how much they believe he should pay in support. This amount is based on the Uniform Child Support Guidelines (see pages 29 through 38). If he disagrees, he can ask for a court hearing. This also must be done within certain time limits. (See “Establishment of Support Orders” on the next page.) Can Paternity Be Disestablished? Yes. A court action is needed to do this. Certain requirements must be met. These include: 1. the child must still be a minor (under age 18); 2. a guardian ad litem (or attorney) must be appointed for the child; 3. genetic tests have not already been done; 4. genetic tests are done which show the established father is not the biological father; or 5. if paternity was established by a signed affidavit, it was based on fraud, duress or material mistake of fact. 8 The person requesting that paternity be disestablished is responsible for paying for the genetic tests. The court action can be filed by the mother, the father or the child. If the court does enter an order overcoming or disestablishing paternity, no more child support will be owed. Any unpaid, past due, or accrued support will be “waived.” This means it will not have to be paid. However, any support already paid will not be refunded. Even if the tests show the man is not the father, the court can still decide not to overcome paternity. To do this, the father must request that the parent-child relationship continue. Also, the court must conclude that continuing the relationship is in the best interest of the child. Paternity can also be disestablished in a divorce proceeding if both the husband and wife sign a statement saying husband is not the father of a child from their marriage. ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT ORDERS What If Paternity Is Not An Issue? Sometimes the question of who the father is has already been decided. For example, the parents are married but are no longer living together; or the children are living with the father; or genetic tests say he is the father. Then the only thing for CSRU to decide is the amount of support. To make this decision, CSRU first sends a Notice of Support Debt to the parents. What If the Parent Gets a Notice of Support Debt from CSRU? When the CSRU intends to establish a support order requiring the non-custodial parent to pay child support, it will send that parent a notice called a “Notice of Support Debt.” The parent from whom child support is sought is called the “debtor” or “obligor.” Sample Letter to Child Support Recovery Unit 9 Sample Letter Regarding Paternity A debtor who gets notice of a support debt from the CSRU should know the amount of the support debt listed could be misleading. The figure listed may show how much FIP the state has been paying to the debtor’s family, instead of the amount paid just for the children. Also, the support debt could be less than the amount of FIP paid for the children if the debtor’s income is too low. The notice of support debt will include a request that the parent provide financial information. The parent will be asked to complete a financial statement. It is very important to tell CSRU accurate income information. Under the law, CSRU can estimate or assume the parent’s income if they don’t know for sure. This can result in support orders that are too high. Once a debtor gets notice of a support debt from CSRU, the debtor may request a negotiation conference. This must be done within ten days. It is in a debtor’s best interest to contact CSRU in writing to ask for a meeting (negotiation conference). A sample letter is on page 9. At this time, the debtor will have a chance to discuss his/her specific case with the CSRU. He or she can also try to work out a plan for repayment of the support debt. After the conference, CSRU will issue a new notice or a conference report. Is the Non-Custodial Parent (Debtor or Obligor) Entitled to a Hearing? A debtor can request a court hearing instead of participating in a negotiation conference. The request for a hearing must be made within 30 days after receiving the first notice. Also, a debtor can request a hearing after taking part in a negotiation conference if he or she disagrees with the findings at the conference. This must be done within the time limit. 10 The non-custodial parent who gets a notice of a support debt from CSRU has a right to a hearing. By law, the debtor need only ask (in writing) the CSRU to arrange such a hearing. See the sample letter on page 9. What If the Notice Is Ignored? If a debtor does not contact CSRU within the time limit, CSRU will enter a default judgment. The default judgment is a child support order and may include the full amount of support shown on the notice. The debt may be taken from the debtor’s wages (wage assignment). At this time, a debtor’s property may also be subject to collection action. It may be possible to set aside (remove) a default judgment, but it is very hard to do. How Is the Amount of Child Support Determined? The incomes of both parents determine the amount of child support in Iowa. In most cases, the Child Support Recovery Unit and judges must use the Child Support Guidelines which include a chart called the Iowa Schedule of Basic Support Obligations (Schedule). The Schedule uses the combined net monthly income of the parents. It also uses the number of children. Based on the combined income amount and the number of children, a total amount of child support is found on the Schedule. Each parent will “pay” a percentage or share of this total amount. The share is equal to the parent’s percentage of their combined incomes. For example, if both parents earn the same, each share is 50%. If one earns $1000 and the other one earns $1500, the shares would be 40%($1000 is 40% of the total $2500) and 60% ($1500 is 60% of $2500). A copy of the Guidelines (effective as of July 1, 2009) is at the back of this booklet. The Guidelines must be reviewed every four years. The reviews may change the Guidelines and how child support is figured. To get a copy of the current Guidelines, contact a lawyer or CSRU. CSRU has a website you can use to get information about the current Guidelines. It is https://childsupport.dhs.state.ia.us The CSRU website includes a link to an online Child Support Estimator. The url of the Child Support Estimator is https://secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us/childsupport/changechildsupport/asppages/CSChdEst_Dis.asp 11 The important part of the Guidelines is each parent’s “net monthly income.” The following items are subtracted from gross income to determine “net monthly income.” 1. federal income tax; 2. state income tax; 3. Social Security; 4. mandatory pension deductions; 5. union dues; 6. actual medical support paid under court order or administrative order; 7. cash medical support ordered in this specific case; 8. child support or alimony that is being paid and was ordered before this specific case; 9. qualified additional dependent deduction; and 10.actual child care expenses while the custodial parent is employed minus the income tax credit. After this is all subtracted from gross income, the amount left is the “net monthly income.” The amount for each parent is combined. The basic support obligation is found on the Schedule. The non custodial parent will pay his/her share as described above. An example using the Guidelines will help. A couple has one child. Assume Mom is the custodial parent. Dad’s net income is $1600 a month. Mom’s net income is $400 a month. The total of their combined incomes is $2000. The Schedule says that the basic support obligation is $490. Dad’s income is 80% of the $2000. . Dad would pay 80% of the $490 or $392 (492 x .8). For low-income parents, ONLY the income of the noncustodial parent is used. The incomes are NOT combined. The parents do not each pay a share of the basic support obligation. The noncustodial parent pays the full amount. The Schedule shows these low income amounts by having a “shaded area.” Example: If the noncustodial parent’s net income is only $1000 a month, and there is one child, the parent would pay $95. What if the parents share custody? When the parents share custody about equally (joint physical care) support is decided a little different. After figuring each parent’s share of support, that amount is multiplied by 1.5 and that amount is multiplied by 50%. Support is calculated this way even if low income parents share custody. A parent can ask a judge not to use the Guidelines to set support. This is called a Request to Deviate from the Guidelines. For example, the parent can tell the judge that the support amount set by the Guidelines is too high or too low. In the past it was very unlikely that the judge would deviate. Changes to the Guidelines in 2009 may make this a little easier. According to the rules, adjustments can be made to the support amount “to do justice between the parties...under the special circumstances of the case.” Because the Supreme Court has said to use the Guidelines except in very unusual cases, you will need to ask for a hearing to request a deviation. CSRU will not do it without a judge telling them to. If the noncustodial parent has no income, he or she will still be ordered to pay child support. If the noncustodial parent’s net monthly income is less than $500 per month, the Judge probably will order the parent to pay $50 per month if there is one child, $75 per month if there are two children, $100 for three children, and $125 for four or more children. 12 If a noncustodial parent’s court-ordered visitation exceeds 127 overnights per year, the non-custodial parent will be able to pay less in child support. It is important for parents to tell the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) how much money they make. CSRU usually asks the parent to complete a financial statement. If CSRU does not know how much money the noncustodial parent makes, the CSRU searches for information on the parent’s income. They will view records at Workforce Development, Department of Revenue and other agencies. When financial information is not available, CSRU estimates income according to the median income of all people who work in the same type of job as the obligor. If the obligor’s occupation is not known, CSRU may use the median income of the people on CSRU’s caseload. What is Considered “Income”? The only type of money not considered income is welfare or public assistance. Therefore, CSRU will consider social security benefits, veterans benefits, pensions, unemployment benefits, wages, etc. as income but not FIP or SSI benefits. How Does CSRU Calculate Accrued Support? It may take several months (or even years) for CSRU to get a support order after a child is born (or the parents separate). That does not mean no support will be owed for this time period. CSRU may go back 36 months from the date the parent is served papers or back to the month the child began receiving FIP, whichever is shorter. If the child has not received FIP or Medical Assistance it is quite likely no accrued support will be required. If accrued support is ordered, this must be paid in addition to the current obligation. A payment schedule or income withholding order will usually require an additional 10% or 20% of the current amount to pay on this accrued debt. What is Medical Support? The law says that “support” means more than just child support. It also means medical support. More emphasis is being placed on requiring the parent to provide health insurance and/or pay medical bills for the children. CSRU can obtain an order for just medical support and not child support. Usually both will be ordered at the same time. Until July of 2009, Obligors could be ordered to buy health insurance even if it was very expensive As long as it was available through his or her job, it was considered “reasonable” in cost. Oligors would have to enroll the children in the plan. All of that changed effective July 1, 2009. The definition of “reasonable” changed drastically. Now, the cost of the health insurance cannot be more than a set percentage of the parent’s gross income. The percentage will be between 1% and 5% depending on how much the parent earns. There is a Medical Support Table now in the Guidelines which lists the correct percentage. How is “cost” defined? Cost is the child’s portion of the premium. To figure out this amount, you take the difference between the price of family coverage and the price of single coverage. So, if the family coverage costs $200 and the single coverage costs $125, $75 is the cost that must be “reasonable” under the facts of the case. Can the custodial parent be required to buy health insurance? Yes. This is a big change in medical support. However, this would only happen if the noncustodial parent can’t get insurance at reasonable cost and the custodial parent can. 13 How is the insurance premium paid? The parents share the cost according to their proportionate share of their combined incomes. For example, assume the cost of the insurance is $75, Dad’s income is $2,000 a month and Mom’s is $1500. Dad will pay 57% of the premium because his income is 57% of their combined incomes ($3500). The actual child support amount will go up or down depending on who is buying the insurance to account for this sharing. What if “reasonable” cost insurance is not available to either parent? The Court must order “cash medical support.” This is defined as a cash amount that must be paid in addition to the child support and instead of buying health insurance. Only a “reasonable” amount can be required. What is reasonable is figured the same way as what would be reasonable to pay for health insurance. The same Medical Support Table is used to find out what percentage of gross income is correct. Cash Medical Support will be collected the same way that child support is and will be sent to the custodial parent. If the custodial parent is on Title 19, the money will go to the State just like child support does when the custodial parent is on FIP. ( support is “assigned to the State” when parent received public assistance) Are there any exceptions to having to pay Cash Medical Support? Yes. If the parent is very low income they cannot be required to pay cash medical support. As of July 1, 2009 if the parent’s net income is below $850 a month, no cash medical can be ordered. Medical support orders can be challenged and may be lowered if the cost of insurance is too high. What If the Noncustodial Parent Is 19 Years Old or Younger? A noncustodial parent who is 19 years old or younger and who is still going to high school or getting a GED, will have support set according to guidelines unless special circumstances justify deviation. FOSTER CARE Do Parents Have To Pay Support If the Child Is In Foster Care? Yes, both the mother and father will be ordered to pay child support. The question of child support will not be part of the ChINA case (Child in Need of Assistance) or the juvenile delinquency case. Child support will be decided in a separate case started by the Foster Care Recovery Unit. The Foster Care Recovery Unit will use the Child Support Guidelines (see pages 29 to 38 of this booklet) to decide the amount of support. There will be an order for the father to pay and a second order for the mother to pay. To determine the mother’s support, she will be considered the noncustodial parent on the Guidelines, and they will use “$0” for the custodial parent. Then to decide how much the father will pay in support, the same process will be used. If the case plan is to return the child to one of the parents, then that parent may be able to argue that he or she should not have to pay any child support. This area of the law is not clear, and the parent should talk to an attorney immediately. If the parents separated before the child went into foster care, there may already be a support order in effect. If so, the amount of support payable on behalf of that child is automatically assigned to the State. Unless otherwise set out in the Order, the amount of support payable on behalf of each child means that each child will get an equal share of the support ordered. For example, assume Dad has been ordered to pay $200 a month in support for two children. When one of these children is placed in foster care, one-half of that $200 (or $100) will automatically go to the State. It will not go to the mother as it did previously. 14 HOW CHILD SUPPORT IS ENFORCED What If the Non-Custodial Parent Won’t Pay? There are many ways to enforce a child support order. The following list includes the most common ways this is done. 1) Income Withholding Child Support can be taken directly from wages or other income. Other income includes Social Security benefits, Worker’s Compensation benefits, unemployment and disability. Income is not withheld from payments received from the SSI or FIP programs. MANDATORY. The law used to say if the parent who owes support is at least one month behind, the custodial parent can ask the Clerk of Court to take a certain amount of money directly from the wages of the parent who owes support. This is called a “wage assignment.” This usually is equal to the current monthly amount plus a percentage of this amount to go towards the past-due support. (See “How Much Can Be Withheld?” below.) It can be done without a hearing because “notice” is given in the original support order and final decree. IMMEDIATE. Since November 1, 1990, immediate withholding of income became automatic for child support orders entered on or after that date. It will not be necessary to be behind in support first. There are two exceptions to this rule: 1. If good cause exists, which means it is in the best interest of the child; or 2. A written agreement exists between the parties providing for an alternative. This becomes void if child support is assigned to the state. Child support payments ordered before November 1, 1990, can also be subject to immediate withholding, even if no arrearages are owed, if proper notice is given. Either parent may request immediate withholding or CSRU may determine it is necessary. If back-due support is owed, the amount withheld under immediate withholding will probably be the current amount plus 10% of the current amount. The extra 10% is applied to the back-due amount. How Much Can Be Withheld? If there is a delinquency (back child support), there are rules that state how much money can be taken through a wage assignment. Under the old law, the amount withheld will be the current support obligation plus 50 percent more of this amount. Since July 1, 1998, Orders usually require the current amount plus 20% of the current amount. However, if the total amount to be withheld is more than the amount allowed under federal law (50-65 percent of income), the federal limits will be followed. Also a payor can request that less money be taken to pay on the delinquency on the grounds of hardship. Hardship means income below 200 percent of the poverty level for one person. (The poverty level for 2010 for one person is $10,830 income per year). There is a complicated formula for figuring how much the amount should be reduced, but the amount withheld on delinquency will never be less than $5.00. Also, the request must be made within 15 days after receiving notice of the withholding. Obligors who are receiving disability benefits can request a hardship reduction after the 15-day deadline has passed. 1) Challenges to Income Withholding It is possible to contest the withholding by filing a motion to quash in court and/or requesting an informal conference with CSRU. The issues to be reviewed are limited in an informal conference but include: the identity of the payor is wrong, the amount of the obligation (current or delinquent) is wrong, or the hardship criteria are met (discussed above). There is no appeal from the decision 15 resulting from the informal conference. The conference must be requested within 15 days after the income withholding order is issued. Under Iowa law, it is not clear what can be challenged by a motion to quash. The grounds for challenging an assignment are limited to “mistakes of fact.” Someone who is having money assigned (taken) from their wages for back due child support can challenge the assignment if one of the following errors has occurred: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The stated amount of back due or late support is not correct; The stated amount of back due or late support has been paid; The payment was not late; The amount exceeds the limits allowed under federal law; or The person whose money is being assigned is not the one who actually owes the money. Some recent court cases suggest that you may be able to challenge wage assignments for other reasons as well. One example of a successful challenge was when a non-custodial parent claimed that he could not afford to pay back-due child support, because he also had to support two other children presently in his custody. If the parent questions the amount of wage assignment, contact a lawyer. A sample Motion to Quash/ Change Income Withholding Order is on pages 25 and 26. 2) Garnishment Garnishment has the same results as income withholding. But it is different from income withholding in several ways. It tends to be used for non-wage income and taking of assets such as bank accounts, investments, business assets, etc. Also, garnishment may take more time because a party who seeks to garnish must go to court. So garnishment is less preferable if there are wages, but it is still an option. The court is supposed to consider each case so that all of the non-custodial parent’s money would not be taken if he or she has no other money. 3) Seek Work Orders If someone is not making child support payments and CSRU cannot verify that they are working, a court order can be entered requiring that person to look for a job. The order is entered by a judge “ex parte.” This means without the noncustodial parent being there. The order becomes effective 15 days after it is issued. The order can last up to three months. It will require the parent to look for a job and to report to CSRU the attempts to find a job. This report must be done weekly and show at least five new attempts to find work. Under certain circumstances the parent may be excused from these work search requirements. 4) Administrative Levy This law allows CSRU to “levy” or seize money in bank accounts of people who are behind in their support payments. Notices are sent to the bank and the parent. The parent then has ten working days to challenge the levy. CSRU will then review their information and send a second notice. The parent can then request a court hearing which will be held within ten days. It is difficult to stop the levy. Sometimes arguments can be made that CSRU is taking too much or that the amount of alleged delinquency is not right. 5) Contempt of Court When a person willfully or deliberately fails or refuses to pay child support, they can be found in contempt of court. They can also be found in contempt if they don’t obey a Seek Work Order (see 16 the section 3 above). Contempt is similar to being charged with a crime. The process starts with a “rule to show cause” being served on the person. This will include a hearing date and time. At the hearing the parent has a chance to explain why they haven’t paid support. If they have a good reason such as being sick or disabled, they may not be found in contempt. If found in contempt of court, the judge can impose a number of penalties including: jail time, fines, payment of child support into special accounts, community service or stopping the parent from doing anything that requires a license (such as practicing medicine, operating a business). Because of the possibility of a jail sentence, the parent may have the right to a court appointed attorney. It is best to ask for a court appointed attorney before the hearing date by contacting the clerk of court’s office. 6) License Sanctions CSRU can cause certain licenses to be taken away (suspended, revoked, not issued or not renewed) for failure to pay child support. These licenses include business or professional licenses as well as licenses to drive and register vehicles and recreational licenses. The parent must be behind in his or her payments three months and must meet certain other criteria. A notice is given to the parent that a “Certificate of Noncompliance” will be sent to the agency or department that issues that license. Later, that agency will also send a notice to the parent and start proceedings to take the license. The parent can challenge this and possibly stop or lift the sanction. They should first request a conference with CSRU. After the conference, CSRU will issue a written decision. CSRU will not send a Certificate of Noncompliance or will withdraw it if certain conditions are met including: • • • If the parent enters into a written agreement with CSRU regarding payments; or If the parent pays the delinquency; or Other facts exist which make the sanctions inappropriate. If CSRU does issue the Certificate or won’t withdraw one, a hearing can be requested in district court. The deadline for requesting such a hearing is 30 days after the Notice from the agency or department that grants the license. 7) Reports to Credit Bureaus Any parent who owes overdue support of more than $1,000 will be reported to consumer reporting agencies (credit bureaus). This is a requirement imposed by federal law. A notice is sent to the parent explaining that the report will be made in 30 days. The parent can request a review within 15 days from the date of the Notice. At the review CSRU will look at the evidence presented by the parent and decide if more than $1,000 is actually owed. If so, the report will still be made. This decision cannot be appealed through CSRU. Once the report is made, it is not possible to withdraw it even if the delinquency gets below $1,000. The only way to prevent the report is to get the delinquency below $1,000 before the report is made or bring the account current (pay full amount). 8) Centralized Employee Registry All employers must report to CSRU all the people they hire. These reports are due ten days from the date the person is hired. The report must include information on whether health insurance is available. The goal is to help CSRU find and keep track of parents who change jobs frequently so that wage assignments can be imposed quicker. 17 9) Tax Refund Intercept Both federal and state refunds can be taken to pay past due support. For federal refunds, the amount of past due support that triggers the offset is either $150 or $500 depending on whether the custodial parent is on public assistance or not. For state refunds, the amount is $50 and applies to all cases. Other criteria must also be met and notices are sent both before the offset occurs and at the time of the offset. An administrative review by CSRU and/or an appeal hearing can be held to contest the offset but certain deadlines must be met. Also, the law does not allow obligors very many reasons to undo the offset. According to CSRU, tax offset is one of the most effective and successful collection tools they have. Are There Other Ways to Collect Child Support? The nine ways listed above are not the only ways to collect child support, but they are the most common. Other ways include taking payments owed to the parent by a state agency (debtor offset) and seizure of property. What If the Children Are No Longer Minors? Child support is usually no longer payable after a child is 18 years old. The support will continue until age 19 if the child is still in high school or working on a G.E.D. However, if there is still back-due support owed, CSRU can continue to take steps to collect it. Also, either parent in a divorce can be ordered to pay a “post-secondary education subsidy.” This is to help with educational expenses for a child ages 18-22 who is regularly attending college or involved in a vocational-technical program through school. The subsidy is paid to the child or the school or to both. Before ordering the subsidy, the court considers the educational costs, the income of the parents and the child and whether or not the child has “disowned” the parent. CSRU does not obtain or enforce orders for an education subsidy. MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS Child support debts that have not been paid cannot be reduced or forgiven. Once a child support debt exists, it cannot be lowered. However, future payments can be lowered if the financial situation of the one who pays support changes a great deal or if other circumstances change that would justify a change in child support. A person who owes support must “modify” the support order to change the amount of support owed. Review and Adjustment of Child Support Orders At the request of either parent, CSRU will review the amount of the support ordered and adjust the amount if certain conditions are met. They will look only at orders being enforced by CSRU, however. The conditions include: 1. The current amount varies from the Guidelines by more than 20 percent, or the net monthly income of the parent ordered to pay support does not fall within the income limits of the Guidelines, and 2. The variation is due to financial circumstances which have lasted for three months and can reasonably expect to last for an additional three months. Or, 3. Health coverage is available to the parent and the children are not already covered (does not include Title XIX). Notice will be sent to the parents that a review is being conducted. There is no time limit on how long the reviews can take. After the review is completed, parents will get a written decision. The decision will tell them whether CSRU will file a Petition in court or an Administrative Order to change the child 18 support amount. If a parent is not happy with the decision, they have ten days to request a review by CSRU. After that, a final decision is made by CSRU. If changing the child support is not appropriate, CSRU will not do anything more but parents can ask a court to review CSRU’s decision. If, after initial or final review, adjustment is recommended, the CSRU attorney will review this recommendation. Then that attorney will file the Petition or an Administrative Order in court. However, if CSRU believes there is material misrepresentation of fact involved or that the reduction in income is voluntary, no Petition or Administrative Order will be filed. The parent can have an attorney in this proceeding. CSRU will only let people request review every two years except in certain circumstances. Administrative Modification This is a second way to change child support. It is available only in special circumstances. These include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 50% change in income of either parent A child needs to be added to the order; The non-custodial parent is no longer a minor; Clerical or typographic errors need to be corrected; or The original order set support at zero or not at all. The process is the same as in Review and Adjust but the two-year minimum does not apply. What if the Parent Paying Support Becomes Disabled? When a parent receives Social Security Disability benefits (or retirement), dependent children may also receive a monthly check from the Social Security Administration. These benefits to the children can be used to help satisfy or pay the child support. They should contact CSRU right away if they become eligible for Social Security Disability or retirement. However, because of a change in the law, CSRU will change or modify the order for support and will count the amount paid to the children as income to the parent. The parent can still get credit (deduction) for the amount the children received, but the support order must be changed to include the credit. Suspension and Reinstatement of Support In some cases, the people involved in a child support order experience a change in circumstances. For example, the parents may reconcile and start living together again or the children may go to live with the person ordered to pay child support. When things like that happen, CSRU can be required to suspend or stop the support obligation. To do this, certain conditions must be met. These include: 1. The request to suspend the support obligation must be signed by both parents. 2. The reason for the suspension or the change in circumstances must be expected to continue for at least six months. 3. If the request for suspension applies to at least one, but not all of the children affected by the order, the order must contain a “step change”. This means that the order already says what amount will be paid as the number of children entitled to support changes. (for example, $200 for 3 children; $150 for 2 and $100 for 1). 4. No prior request for suspension has been filed with the unit during the two-year period preceding the request. If the conditions are met, CSRU will approve the request. They will then prepare an Order for the judge to sign suspending the support. This is a temporary order which becomes effective the date it is filed. After six months, this temporary order becomes final by operation of law and the support obligation is ended. 19 During the six month waiting period, either person involved or CSRU can request Reinstatement of the order. This is done by submitting a written request to CSRU. A hearing will be scheduled if any person objects to the Reinstatement. The objections have to be filed with the clerk of court. Sometimes support will keep adding up for a while before it can be suspended. The parent who is owed this support can ask that this amount be “satisfied” (forgiven or considered paid) as part of the suspension process. This means that the person previously ordered to pay support will not have to pay this amount. People who have already gone through the suspension may need to file a Motion with the Court to get rid of this back support. (See “Motion to Release Support Judgment” below.) Petition to Modify Support Child support orders can also be changed if one parent files a Petition to Modify in Court. This is like starting a new lawsuit and a filing fee must be paid. To modify the Order there must be a substantial and material change in circumstances. The change must also be permanent or long term. If the change involves reduced income, the reduction must be involuntary. For example, the parent cannot quit a good paying job just to pay less support. This process usually requires an attorney and can take several months to finish. Motion to Release Support Judgment Sometimes parents start living together again or the child goes to live with the parent ordered to pay support. The support will continue to add up unless the order is changed by the court. This can be done through the Suspension process (explained above). However, sometimes a lot of time passes before parents ask for the suspension. The problem of what to do about the support that adds up during this waiting time can now be solved as part of the suspension process. This is because of a 1998 change in the law (explained above). However, if this new law did not apply or take care of the back support it will be necessary to file a Motion. When the Motion is filed, the parent who is owed the support signs a “release.” The release tells the court to forgive the debt of support owed to that parent. Most of the time people need a lawyer to help file this Motion. Note: any support owed to the state because the other parent was on FIP will not be forgiven. What If More Than One State is Involved? Recent changes in federal law make it mandatory that each state adopt the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). This law explains what to do in cases where the parents do not live in the same state. The purpose of this law is to prevent several different orders for support being entered which involve the same family. It contains rules about which state has to decide the amount of support, how to collect support in other states and which state can modify the order. It is a very complicated law. If your case involves more than one state, contact CSRU or a lawyer. Where Is the Law On Child Support Found? The area of child support law includes many different statutes in the Iowa Code: 252A, 252B, 252C, 252D, 252E, 252F, 252G, 252H, 252I, 252J, 252K, 598, and 600B. This is an area of the law that changes often. The Code of Iowa can be found at a local library or courthouse. Recent changes in the law are kept in special books which are usually kept with the Code itself. Talk to a librarian about using these books, but when in doubt, see a lawyer. You can also find the Code of Iowa on the Internet. Go to the website of the Iowa State Legislature at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IowaLaw.html 20 Where Can I Find Out More About the Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU)? The Child Support Recovery Service has a website at childsupport.dhs.state.ia.us The website has information including: • Support guidelines • general information • changing an order • reliacard information • forms you use • contact information How Do I Contact the Child Support Recovery Unit? CSRU now has a customer service number: 1-888-229-9223. If you call the CSRU office in your area (there are 19 different offices) you will probably be instructed to call this Customer Service number. You can also write or visit the CSRU office in your area. If you don’t know the address, it should be on papers you have received or through the Customer Service office. CSRU local offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday - Friday, except state holidays. You can also call the child support automated information line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-229-9223 (toll free nationwide) for additional information. Office: Burlington Child Support Recovery Unit Address: 409 N. 4th St., PO Box 638 Burlington, IA 52601-0638 319-753-6322 Dubuque Child Support 960 Main St., PO Box 3068 Recovery Unit Dubuque, IA 52004-3068 563-557-7113 Carroll Child Support 625 N. West St.; PO Box 937 Recovery Unit Carroll, IA 51401-0937 712-792-5691 Fort Dodge Child 330 1st Ave. No Support Recovery Unit Fort Dodge, IA 50501-3718 515-955-5464 Cedar Rapids Child 411 3rd St. S.E., Ste. 600 Support Recovery Unit Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1842 319-362-2866 Linn County Child 411 3rd St. S.E., Ste. 200 Support Recovery Unit Cedar Rapids, IA 52401-1837 319-398-3619 Clinton Child Support 121 6th Ave. So., PO Box 1175 Recovery Unit Clinton, IA 52733-1175 563-243-8237 Marshalltown Child 204 1/2 W. State St. Support Recovery Unit Marshalltown, IA 50158-5842 641-753-6408 Council Bluffs Child Support Recovery Unit Mason City Child Support Recovery Unit 21 300 W. Broadway, Ste. 32 Council Bluffs, IA 51503-9030 712-242-2358 Mohawk Square 22 N. Georgia Ave Ste 13 Mason City, IA 50401-3435 641-424-1147 Service Area: Counties: Des Moines, Henry, Lee, Louisa Counties: Dubuque Counties: Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Sac, Shelby Counties: Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster, Wright Counties: Benton, Iowa, Johnson, Jones Counties: Linn Counties: Cedar, Clinton, Jackson Counties: Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, Tama Counties: Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Pottawattamie, Taylor Counties: Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth Office: Creston Child Support Recovery Unit Address: 215 W. Adams Creston, IA 50801-3106 641-782-5844 Ottumwa Child Support 127 E. Main, Ste. 100 Recovery Unit Ottumwa, IA 52501-2951 641-682-8802 Davenport Child Support Recovery Unit Service Area: Establishment Counties: Adair, Adams, Boone, Cass, Clarke, Dallas, Decatur, Jasper, Marion, Madison, Polk, Ringgold, Story, Union, Warren Counties: Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, Washington, Wayne Counties: Muscatine, Scott 3911 W. Locust, PO Box 4226 Davenport, IA 52808-4226 563-388-0409 Sioux City Child 520 Nebraska St., Ste. 218 Counties: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Support Recovery Unit Sioux City, IA 51101-1315 Ida, Monona, Plymouth, Woodbury 712-255-2749 Decorah Child Support 317 Washington St., Ste. 2 Counties: Allamakee, Chickasaw, Recovery Unit Decorah, IA 52101-1832 Clayton, Fayette, Howard, 563-382-2666 Winneshiek Spencer Child Support t20 W. 6th St., Ste. 200 Counties: Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Recovery Unit Spencer, IA 51301-3907 Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, 712-262-1412 Sioux Child Support Recovery Mailing Address for all Des Moines area offices: Unit - Des Moines Area CSRU, PO Box 9135, Des Moines, IA 50306-9135 -Ankeny 1605 SE Delaware, Suite A, Enforcement Payor O - S for Ankeny, IA Counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Polk, Ringgold, Union 515-369-2800 Grimes 3560 SW Brookside Dr., Ste. E, Enforcement Payor W - Z for Counties: Grimes, IA Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Polk, 515-369-2850 Ringgold, Union Enforcement Payor A - Z for Counties: Boone, Dallas, Story Pleasant Hill Indianola - South Des Moines North Des Moines - 1300 Metro East Dr., Suite 112-114, Pleasant Hill, IA 515-261-5870 1807 West 2nd Ave (Hwy 92 W), Indianola, IA 515-962-5400 525 SW 5th Street, Suite H, Des Moines, IA 515-369-2860 6200 Aurora Ave., Suite 301 East, Urbandale, IA 515-369-2750 Enforcement Payor A - C for Counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Polk, Ringgold, Union Enforcement Payor T - V for Counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Polk, Ringgold, Union Enforcement Payor A - Z for Counties: Jasper, Madison, Marion, Warren Enforcement Payor J - N for Counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Polk, Ringgold, Union Enforcement Payor D - I for Counties: Adair, Adams, Cass, Clarke, Decatur, Polk, Ringgold, Union Obligation to Provide Information Both parties must report certain information to keep their records current. Changes in address, driver’s license number, employer, etc. must be reported. A sample form used by the Clerks of Court is included on pages 27 and 28 in the back of this book. If a parent does not provide this information, he or she may not be notified in the future if something happens in his or her case. 22 GLOSSARY OF CHILD SUPPORT AND PATERNITY TERMS Arrears: The amount of child support that is past due or unpaid. Arrears can be set as of the date the child support order is first entered. This is usually the case when CSRU is getting the order and the child has been receiving welfare benefits from the State. CSRU rules say that they will calculate arrears based on the current amount of support ordered multiplied by the number of months (up to a maximum of 36) the child has been receiving benefits. It is not unusual to have a current obligation to pay plus an arrears totaling several thousand dollars. Payments must be made on both amounts. Assignment: The State (DHS) gets the right to collect money owed to a parent. When a parent receives FIP or Medicaid (Title XIX) on behalf of a child, the law requires that they assign or give their right to receive child support to the State. The assignment is automatic, meaning it just happens without the parent having to do much except receive the benefits. This is why child support paid will often go to the State instead of directly to the other parent. The child support is paid to reimburse the State for benefits paid out by FIP on behalf of the child. An assignment also happens if a child under a child support order goes into foster care. This is an automatic assignment of the child’s share of the order. For example, if there are three children under the order, one-third of the support order will belong to each child. If the order requires the parent to pay $300 per month and one of the children goes into foster care, $100 will be considered assigned to the state. The $100 will automatically be taken from the support paid and the remaining $200 will be sent to the other parent. Child Support: The amount of money the court requires a noncustodial parent (the one who does not have physical care of the child) to pay towards the cost of raising a child. The amount is based on both parents’ income and set according to strict Guidelines. Child Support Recovery Unit: An office of the Department of Human Services. Their job is to obtain support orders and collect child support payments. They also locate parents and establish paternity. Collection Services Center: A centralized distribution center where most child support payments are sent and then given out (distributed) to the appropriate person (parent or state). If payments are not sent through CSC, they will probably not be counted as being paid. The CSC replaces, for the most part, the clerks of court as a collector of child support. Deviating from the Guidelines: The mandatory child support Guidelines will always require a certain amount of support. The law presumes (or assumes) this amount is fair to both parents--enough for the child while leaving enough for the other parent to live on. Sometimes parents disagree with the amount and want the court to “deviate” or set a different amount of support. The court can do this only under special circumstances. It is usually quite difficult to convince a court to deviate. Disestablishment: This means a court order declaring that a man previously believed to be the established father is not the biological father. He will then no longer have to pay child support. Certain court procedures must be followed in order to obtain such an order. Genetic Testing: Medical analysis of blood or body tissue (such as saliva cells) to determine if a man is the biological father of a child. The mother, alleged father and the child give a blood or tissue sample. A laboratory then compares genetic “markers” to find out what the probability is that the man is the father. The results are stated in terms of a percentage (91.2 percent or 98.99 percent for example). If the percentage is 95 percent or higher, the law assumes the man is the father. Genetic tests are considered very accurate by scientists and the court. Guidelines: A set of rules and charts that must be used to set the amount of child support. They are written by the Iowa Supreme Court and are designed to make support orders “uniform” or fair for all parents based on their income. The Guidelines work by taking the net monthly income of both parents and placing those figures on a certain chart depending on the number of children involved. The chart will state what percentage, such as 25 percent or 22.2 percent (of the noncustodial parent’s income) is to be paid out in child support. 23 Income: For purposes of calculating child support, there are two basic types of income to be aware of: gross and net. Gross income is the total amount a person earns or receives. The income does not have to be taxable to be counted. Income includes such things as Social Security benefits, unemployment benefits, workers compensation benefits, wages, salary, commission and VA benefits. Some types of income, however, are not counted--such as FIP benefits and SSI. Net income is the amount you have after taking certain deductions from gross income such as taxes, Social Security, medical insurance premiums, other child support payments and child care costs. Net income is used when calculating the amount of support under the Guidelines. If the correct income of a parent is not known, the law allows the court and CSRU to impute income, or assume the person is making a certain amount of money. Income Withholding: This is the most common way to collect support. It involves a court order being sent to an employer requiring them to take a certain amount of money out of the parent’s paycheck each pay period. If the parent is behind in their support payments, this amount will include the amount due each month (current support) plus an amount to be paid on the back support (arrears). A parent can challenge the amount being taken, but the reasons to lower it are fairly limited under the law. Medical Support: The purchase of health insurance or a health benefit plan to meet the needs of a child (and sometimes a custodial parent). It can also be a cash payment to the noncustodial parent instead of buying the insurance. It is separate from child support and usually obtained through an employer. Obligee: Person legally entitled to receive a support payment on behalf of a child. Often the obligee is the custodial parent. The obligee is also known as the payee. Obligor: Person legally responsible for support. This is usually the noncustodial parent and is also known as the payor. Parental Liability: Child support assessed against a parent when their child goes into foster care. The law says a parent must contribute something to the cost of the foster care placement. The Guidelines are used to determine what this amount will be. Paternity: The legal conclusion that a man is the biological or natural father of a child. Paternity can be established a number of different ways: the parents can agree he is the father by signing a paternity affidavit; the court can order it based on genetic test results or because a man does not deny he is the father. Also, when the parents are married at the time the child is conceived or born, the husband will be considered the legal father of the child. Post-Secondary Education Subsidy: An amount either parent in a divorce may be required to pay for education expenses of a child past high school. The child must be between the ages of 18 and 22 and be regularly attending an approved school or vocational program. The amount cannot exceed one-third of the total cost of the education expenses. It is paid to either the child and/or the school; not the custodial parent. Putative Father: The man who is believed to be the biological or natural father of a child but is not yet declared the legal father. A putative father is also called an “alleged father.” Review and Adjust: A way to change (modify) a child support order through the Child Support Recovery Unit. If certain criteria are met, the amount of support can be increased or decreased. Medical support can also be added to the support order in this way. Specialized Customer Service Unit (SCSU): A special office, located in Des Moines, to handle questions and complaints from those paying and receiving support. The Unit’s phone number is 1-888229-9223. It is no longer possible to call the local CSRU offices. It is necessary to call the SCSU first. Suspension: A service provided by CSRU to stop the support order due to an agreement between the obligor and obligee. Frequently, it is because a child moved and is now living with the parent who is currently paying support. During the first six months, the order is suspended. This means the support does not add up. If the change in circumstances continues for six months, the order is stopped. 24 25 26 27 28 IOWA SCHEDULE OF BASIC SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS Child Support Guidelines 1. Except as provided in 2, only the noncustodial parent’s income is used in the shaded area in accordance with the low-income adjustment. The parents’ combined incomes are used in the remaining (non-shaded) area of the schedule. 2. In joint (equally shared) physical care cases, regardless whether a parent is low income, use the parents’ combined incomes in the shaded and non-shaded areas of the schedule. 3. For combined net monthly incomes above $20,000, the amount of the basic support obligation is deemed to be within the sound discretion of the court or the agency fixing support by administrative order but shall not be less than the basic support obligation for combined net monthly incomes equal to $20,000. Combined* Adjusted Net Income 0 101 201 301 401 501 601 701 801 851 901 951 1001 1051 1101 1151 1201 1251 1301 1351 1401 1451 1501 1551 1601 1651 1701 29 - 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 850 900 950 1000 1050 1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350 1400 1450 1500 1550 1600 1650 1700 1750 One Child Two Children Three Children Four Children Five or More Children 10 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 85 90 95 120 145 170 195 220 245 270 295 320 345 370 395 406 418 430 20 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 95 100 105 135 165 195 225 255 285 315 345 375 405 435 465 495 525 555 30 30 30 40 50 70 80 90 100 105 110 120 153 185 218 250 283 315 348 380 413 445 478 510 543 575 608 35 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 110 115 130 163 195 228 260 293 325 358 390 423 455 488 520 553 585 618 40 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 115 120 145 178 210 243 275 308 340 373 405 438 470 503 535 568 600 633 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 1751 - 1800 1801 - 1850 1851 - 1900 1901 - 1950 1951 - 2000 2001 - 2050 2051 - 2100 2101 - 2150 2151 - 2200 2201 - 2250 2251 - 2300 2301 - 2350 2351 - 2400 2401 - 2450 2451 - 2500 2501 - 2550 2551 - 2600 2601 - 2650 2651 - 2700 2701 - 2750 2751 - 2800 2801 - 2850 2851 - 2900 2901 - 2950 2951 - 3000 3001 - 3050 3051 - 3100 3101 - 3150 3151 - 3200 3201 - 3250 3251 - 3300 3301 - 3350 3351 - 3400 3401 - 3450 3451 - 3500 3501 - 3550 3551 - 3600 3601 - 3650 3651 - 3700 3701 - 3750 3751 - 3800 30 One Child 442 454 466 478 490 502 514 526 538 550 562 574 586 598 610 622 634 647 659 671 683 695 707 717 726 736 745 754 764 773 782 792 798 803 809 815 820 826 832 837 843 Two Children 585 615 645 675 705 727 744 761 778 795 813 831 848 866 883 901 919 936 954 971 989 1007 1024 1038 1051 1064 1076 1089 1102 1115 1127 1140 1149 1157 1166 1174 1183 1191 1200 1208 1216 Three Children 640 673 705 738 770 803 835 868 900 933 957 978 999 1020 1041 1061 1082 1103 1124 1145 1166 1186 1207 1223 1237 1251 1265 1279 1294 1308 1322 1336 1347 1357 1367 1377 1387 1397 1408 1418 1428 Four Children 650 683 715 748 780 813 845 878 910 943 975 1000 1021 1043 1064 1086 1107 1129 1150 1172 1193 1215 1236 1258 1279 1301 1322 1344 1365 1387 1408 1430 1451 1473 1494 1516 1537 1559 1572 1584 1595 Five or More Children 665 698 730 763 795 828 860 893 925 958 990 1023 1045 1067 1089 1111 1133 1155 1177 1199 1221 1243 1265 1287 1309 1331 1353 1375 1397 1419 1441 1463 1485 1507 1529 1551 1573 1595 1617 1639 1661 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 3801 - 3850 3851 - 3900 3901 - 3950 3951 - 4000 4001 - 4050 4051 - 4100 4101 - 4150 4151 - 4200 4201 - 4250 4251 - 4300 4301 - 4350 4351 - 4400 4401 - 4450 4451 - 4500 4501 - 4550 4551 - 4600 4601 - 4650 4651 - 4700 4701 - 4750 4751 - 4800 4801 - 4850 4851 - 4900 4901 - 4950 4951 - 5000 5001 - 5050 5051 - 5100 5101 - 5150 5151 - 5200 5201 - 5250 5251 - 5300 5301 - 5350 5351 - 5400 5401 - 5450 5451 - 5500 5501 - 5550 5551 - 5600 5601 - 5650 5651 - 5700 5701 - 5750 5751 - 5800 5801 - 5850 31 One Child 849 855 861 867 874 880 886 892 898 902 905 909 912 916 919 923 926 930 935 939 944 948 953 958 962 967 971 976 981 985 990 995 1000 1006 1011 1016 1022 1027 1032 1038 1043 Two Children 1225 1233 1242 1250 1259 1267 1276 1284 1292 1297 1301 1305 1310 1314 1318 1323 1327 1332 1338 1344 1351 1357 1364 1370 1376 1383 1389 1395 1402 1408 1415 1422 1429 1436 1444 1451 1458 1465 1473 1480 1487 Three Children 1438 1447 1457 1466 1476 1486 1495 1505 1514 1518 1522 1526 1530 1534 1538 1542 1546 1551 1558 1565 1573 1580 1587 1594 1602 1609 1616 1623 1631 1638 1645 1653 1661 1669 1678 1686 1694 1702 1710 1718 1726 Four Children 1606 1616 1627 1638 1649 1659 1670 1681 1691 1695 1700 1704 1709 1714 1718 1723 1727 1732 1740 1749 1757 1765 1773 1781 1789 1797 1805 1813 1822 1830 1838 1847 1856 1865 1874 1883 1892 1901 1910 1919 1928 Five or More Children 1683 1705 1727 1749 1771 1793 1815 1837 1859 1865 1870 1875 1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1906 1914 1923 1932 1941 1950 1959 1968 1977 1986 1995 2004 2013 2022 2031 2041 2051 2061 2071 2081 2091 2101 2111 2121 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 5851 - 5900 5901 - 5950 5951 - 6000 6001 - 6050 6051 - 6100 6101 - 6150 6151 - 6200 6201 - 6250 6251 - 6300 6301 - 6350 6351 - 6400 6401 - 6450 6451 - 6500 6501 - 6550 6551 - 6600 6601 - 6650 6651 - 6700 6701 - 6750 6751 - 6800 6801 - 6850 6851 - 6900 6901 - 6950 6951 - 7000 7001 - 7050 7051 - 7100 7101 - 7150 7151 - 7200 7201 - 7250 7251 - 7300 7301 - 7350 7351 - 7400 7401 - 7450 7451 - 7500 7501 - 7550 7551 - 7600 7601 - 7650 7651 - 7700 7701 - 7750 7751 - 7800 7801 - 7850 7851 - 7900 32 One Child 1048 1054 1059 1064 1069 1074 1079 1084 1090 1095 1100 1105 1110 1115 1120 1125 1130 1135 1140 1145 1150 1155 1160 1166 1171 1176 1181 1186 1191 1196 1201 1206 1211 1216 1221 1226 1231 1236 1241 1246 1251 Two Children 1495 1502 1509 1516 1524 1531 1538 1545 1553 1560 1567 1574 1582 1589 1596 1603 1611 1618 1625 1631 1638 1645 1652 1659 1666 1673 1680 1687 1694 1701 1708 1715 1721 1728 1736 1743 1750 1758 1765 1772 1780 Three Children 1734 1742 1750 1759 1767 1776 1784 1793 1801 1809 1818 1826 1835 1843 1852 1860 1868 1876 1884 1892 1900 1907 1915 1923 1931 1938 1946 1954 1962 1969 1977 1985 1993 2000 2009 2017 2026 2035 2044 2052 2061 Four Children 1937 1946 1955 1964 1974 1983 1993 2002 2012 2021 2031 2040 2049 2059 2068 2078 2087 2096 2104 2113 2122 2130 2139 2148 2156 2165 2174 2182 2191 2200 2208 2217 2226 2234 2244 2253 2263 2273 2283 2293 2302 Five or More Children 2131 2141 2151 2161 2171 2182 2192 2202 2213 2223 2234 2244 2254 2265 2275 2286 2296 2305 2315 2324 2334 2343 2353 2363 2372 2382 2391 2401 2410 2420 2429 2439 2448 2458 2468 2479 2490 2500 2511 2522 2533 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 7901 - 7950 7951 - 8000 8001 - 8050 8051 - 8100 8101 - 8150 8151 - 8200 8201 - 8250 8251 - 8300 8301 - 8350 8351 - 8400 8401 - 8450 8451 - 8500 8501 - 8550 8551 - 8600 8601 - 8650 8651 - 8700 8701 - 8750 8751 - 8800 8801 - 8850 8851 - 8900 8901 - 8950 8951 - 9000 9001 - 9050 9051 - 9100 9101 - 9150 9151 - 9200 9201 - 9250 9251 - 9300 9301 - 9350 9351 - 9400 9401 - 9450 9451 - 9500 9501 - 9550 9551 - 9600 9601 - 9650 9651 - 9700 9701 - 9750 9751 - 9800 9801 - 9850 9851 - 9900 9901 - 9950 33 One Child 1256 1262 1267 1272 1277 1282 1287 1292 1297 1302 1307 1311 1313 1316 1318 1321 1324 1326 1329 1331 1334 1337 1339 1342 1344 1347 1349 1352 1355 1359 1363 1367 1372 1376 1380 1385 1389 1393 1397 1402 1406 Two Children 1787 1795 1802 1809 1817 1824 1832 1839 1846 1854 1861 1866 1870 1873 1877 1880 1884 1888 1891 1895 1898 1902 1906 1909 1913 1916 1920 1923 1927 1933 1938 1944 1950 1956 1962 1968 1973 1979 1985 1991 1997 Three Children 2070 2079 2087 2096 2105 2114 2122 2131 2140 2149 2158 2163 2167 2171 2175 2179 2183 2187 2191 2195 2199 2203 2207 2211 2215 2219 2223 2227 2231 2238 2244 2251 2257 2263 2270 2276 2283 2289 2296 2302 2309 Four Children 2312 2322 2332 2341 2351 2361 2371 2381 2390 2400 2410 2416 2421 2425 2430 2434 2439 2443 2448 2452 2457 2461 2466 2470 2475 2479 2484 2488 2493 2499 2507 2514 2521 2528 2535 2543 2550 2557 2564 2571 2579 Five or More Children 2543 2554 2565 2576 2586 2597 2608 2619 2629 2640 2651 2658 2663 2668 2673 2678 2682 2687 2692 2697 2702 2707 2712 2717 2722 2727 2732 2737 2742 2749 2757 2765 2773 2781 2789 2797 2805 2813 2821 2829 2836 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 9951 - 10000 10001 - 10050 10051 - 10100 10101 - 10150 10151 - 10200 10201 - 10250 10251 - 10300 10301 - 10350 10351 - 10400 10401 - 10450 10451 - 10500 10501 - 10550 10551 - 10600 10601 - 10650 10651 - 10700 10701 - 10750 10751 - 10800 10801 - 10850 10851 - 10900 10901 - 10950 10951 - 11000 11001 - 11050 11051 - 11100 11101 - 11150 11151 - 11200 11201 - 11250 11251 - 11300 11301 - 11350 11351 - 11400 11401 - 11450 11451 - 11500 11501 - 11550 11551 - 11600 11601 - 11650 11651 - 11700 11701 - 11750 11751 - 11800 11801 - 11850 11851 - 11900 11901 - 11950 11951 - 12000 34 One Child 1410 1415 1419 1423 1428 1432 1436 1440 1445 1449 1454 1458 1463 1468 1473 1477 1482 1487 1492 1496 1501 1506 1511 1515 1520 1525 1530 1534 1539 1544 1549 1553 1558 1563 1568 1572 1577 1582 1587 1591 1596 Two Children 2002 2008 2014 2020 2026 2031 2037 2043 2049 2055 2061 2068 2075 2081 2088 2095 2102 2108 2115 2122 2129 2135 2142 2149 2156 2162 2169 2176 2183 2189 2196 2203 2210 2216 2223 2230 2237 2243 2250 2257 2264 Three Children 2315 2321 2328 2334 2341 2347 2354 2360 2366 2373 2380 2388 2396 2404 2412 2419 2427 2435 2443 2451 2458 2466 2474 2482 2490 2497 2505 2513 2521 2529 2536 2544 2552 2560 2568 2575 2583 2591 2599 2607 2614 Four Children 2586 2593 2600 2607 2615 2622 2629 2636 2643 2651 2659 2668 2676 2685 2694 2702 2711 2720 2729 2737 2746 2755 2763 2772 2781 2790 2798 2807 2816 2824 2833 2842 2851 2859 2868 2877 2885 2894 2903 2912 2920 Five or More Children 2844 2852 2860 2868 2876 2884 2892 2900 2908 2916 2925 2934 2944 2953 2963 2973 2982 2992 3001 3011 3021 3030 3040 3049 3059 3069 3078 3088 3097 3107 3116 3126 3136 3145 3155 3164 3174 3184 3193 3203 3212 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 12001 - 12050 12051 - 12100 12101 - 12150 12151 - 12200 12201 - 12250 12251 - 12300 12301 - 12350 12351 - 12400 12401 - 12450 12451 - 12500 12501 - 12550 12551 - 12600 12601 - 12650 12651 - 12700 12701 - 12750 12751 - 12800 12801 - 12850 12851 - 12900 12901 - 12950 12951 - 13000 13001 - 13050 13051 - 13100 13101 - 13150 13151 - 13200 13201 - 13250 13251 - 13300 13301 - 13350 13351 - 13400 13401 - 13450 13451 - 13500 13501 - 13550 13551 - 13600 13601 - 13650 13651 - 13700 13701 - 13750 13751 - 13800 13801 - 13850 13851 - 13900 13901 - 13950 13951 - 14000 14001 - 14050 35 One Child 1601 1606 1610 1615 1620 1623 1627 1630 1634 1637 1641 1644 1648 1652 1655 1659 1662 1666 1669 1673 1676 1680 1683 1687 1691 1694 1698 1701 1705 1708 1712 1715 1719 1723 1726 1730 1733 1737 1740 1744 1747 Two Children 2270 2277 2284 2291 2297 2302 2307 2312 2317 2322 2326 2331 2336 2341 2346 2351 2356 2361 2366 2371 2376 2380 2385 2390 2395 2400 2405 2410 2415 2420 2425 2429 2434 2439 2444 2449 2454 2459 2464 2469 2474 Three Children 2622 2630 2638 2646 2653 2659 2664 2670 2675 2681 2686 2692 2697 2703 2708 2714 2719 2725 2730 2736 2741 2747 2752 2758 2763 2769 2774 2780 2785 2791 2796 2802 2807 2813 2818 2824 2830 2835 2841 2846 2852 Four Children 2929 2938 2947 2955 2964 2970 2976 2982 2988 2994 3000 3007 3013 3019 3025 3031 3037 3044 3050 3056 3062 3068 3074 3081 3087 3093 3099 3105 3111 3117 3124 3130 3136 3142 3148 3154 3161 3167 3173 3179 3185 Five or More Children 3222 3232 3241 3251 3260 3267 3273 3280 3287 3294 3301 3307 3314 3321 3328 3334 3341 3348 3355 3361 3368 3375 3382 3389 3395 3402 3409 3416 3422 3429 3436 3443 3450 3456 3463 3470 3477 3483 3490 3497 3504 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 14051 - 14100 14101 - 14150 14151 - 14200 14201 - 14250 14251 - 14300 14301 - 14350 14351 - 14400 14401 - 14450 14451 - 14500 14501 - 14550 14551 - 14600 14601 - 14650 14651 - 14700 14701 - 14750 14751 - 14800 14801 - 14850 14851 - 14900 14901 - 14950 14951 - 15000 15001 - 15050 15051 - 15100 15101 - 15150 15151 - 15200 15201 - 15250 15251 - 15300 15301 - 15350 15351 - 15400 15401 - 15450 15451 - 15500 15501 - 15550 15551 - 15600 15601 - 15650 15651 - 15700 15701 - 15750 15751 - 15800 15801 - 15850 15851 - 15900 15901 - 15950 15951 - 16000 16001 - 16050 16051 - 16100 36 One Child 1751 1755 1758 1762 1765 1769 1772 1776 1779 1783 1786 1790 1794 1797 1801 1804 1808 1811 1815 1818 1822 1826 1829 1833 1836 1840 1843 1847 1850 1854 1858 1861 1865 1868 1872 1875 1879 1882 1886 1889 1893 Two Children 2479 2483 2488 2493 2498 2503 2508 2513 2518 2523 2528 2532 2537 2542 2547 2552 2557 2562 2567 2572 2577 2582 2586 2591 2596 2601 2606 2611 2616 2621 2626 2631 2635 2640 2645 2650 2655 2660 2665 2670 2675 Three Children 2857 2863 2868 2874 2879 2885 2890 2896 2901 2907 2912 2918 2923 2929 2934 2940 2945 2951 2956 2962 2967 2973 2978 2984 2989 2995 3000 3006 3011 3017 3022 3028 3033 3039 3044 3050 3056 3061 3067 3072 3078 Four Children 3191 3198 3204 3210 3216 3222 3228 3234 3241 3247 3253 3259 3265 3271 3278 3284 3290 3296 3302 3308 3315 3321 3327 3333 3339 3345 3351 3358 3364 3370 3376 3382 3388 3395 3401 3407 3413 3419 3425 3431 3438 Five or More Children 3510 3517 3524 3531 3538 3544 3551 3558 3565 3571 3578 3585 3592 3599 3605 3612 3619 3626 3632 3639 3646 3653 3659 3666 3673 3680 3687 3693 3700 3707 3714 3720 3727 3734 3741 3748 3754 3761 3768 3775 3781 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 16101 - 16150 16151 - 16200 16201 - 16250 16251 - 16300 16301 - 16350 16351 - 16400 16401 - 16450 16451 - 16500 16501 - 16550 16551 - 16600 16601 - 16650 16651 - 16700 16701 - 16750 16751 - 16800 16801 - 16850 16851 - 16900 16901 - 16950 16951 - 17000 17001 - 17050 17051 - 17100 17101 - 17150 17151 - 17200 17201 - 17250 17251 - 17300 17301 - 17350 17351 - 17400 17401 - 17450 17451 - 17500 17501 - 17550 17551 - 17600 17601 - 17650 17651 - 17700 17701 - 17750 17751 - 17800 17801 - 17850 17851 - 17900 17901 - 17950 17951 - 18000 18001 - 18050 18051 - 18100 18101 - 18150 37 One Child 1897 1900 1904 1907 1911 1914 1918 1921 1925 1929 1932 1936 1939 1943 1946 1950 1953 1957 1961 1964 1968 1971 1975 1978 1982 1985 1989 1992 1996 2000 2003 2007 2010 2014 2017 2021 2024 2028 2032 2035 2039 Two Children 2680 2684 2689 2694 2699 2704 2709 2714 2719 2724 2729 2734 2738 2743 2748 2753 2758 2763 2768 2773 2778 2783 2787 2792 2797 2802 2807 2812 2817 2822 2827 2832 2837 2841 2846 2851 2856 2861 2866 2871 2876 Three Children 3083 3089 3094 3100 3105 3111 3116 3122 3127 3133 3138 3144 3149 3155 3160 3166 3171 3177 3182 3188 3193 3199 3204 3210 3215 3221 3226 3232 3237 3243 3248 3254 3259 3265 3270 3276 3282 3287 3293 3298 3304 Four Children 3444 3450 3456 3462 3468 3475 3481 3487 3493 3499 3505 3512 3518 3524 3530 3536 3542 3548 3555 3561 3567 3573 3579 3585 3592 3598 3604 3610 3616 3622 3629 3635 3641 3647 3653 3659 3665 3672 3678 3684 3690 Five or More Children 3788 3795 3802 3808 3815 3822 3829 3836 3842 3849 3856 3863 3869 3876 3883 3890 3897 3903 3910 3917 3924 3930 3937 3944 3951 3957 3964 3971 3978 3985 3991 3998 4005 4012 4018 4025 4032 4039 4046 4052 4059 Combined* Adjusted Net Income 18151 - 18200 18201 - 18250 18251 - 18300 18301 - 18350 18351 - 18400 18401 - 18450 18451 - 18500 18501 - 18550 18551 - 18600 18601 - 18650 18651 - 18700 18701 - 18750 18751 - 18800 18801 - 18850 18851 - 18900 18901 - 18950 18951 - 19000 19001 - 19050 19051 - 19100 19101 - 19150 19151 - 19200 19201 - 19250 19251 - 19300 19301 - 19350 19351 - 19400 19401 - 19450 19451 - 19500 19501 - 19550 19551 - 19600 19601 - 19650 19651 - 19700 19701 - 19750 19751 - 19800 19801 - 19850 19851 - 19900 19901 - 19950 19951 - 20000 38 One Child 2042 2046 2049 2053 2056 2060 2063 2067 2071 2074 2078 2081 2085 2088 2092 2095 2099 2103 2106 2110 2113 2117 2120 2124 2127 2131 2135 2138 2142 2145 2149 2152 2156 2159 2164 2169 2174 Two Children 2881 2886 2890 2895 2900 2905 2910 2915 2920 2925 2930 2935 2939 2944 2949 2954 2959 2964 2969 2974 2979 2984 2989 2993 2998 3003 3008 3013 3018 3023 3028 3033 3038 3042 3048 3056 3064 Three Children 3309 3315 3320 3326 3331 3337 3342 3348 3353 3359 3364 3370 3375 3381 3386 3392 3397 3403 3408 3414 3419 3425 3430 3436 3441 3447 3452 3458 3463 3469 3474 3480 3485 3491 3498 3506 3515 Four Children 3696 3702 3709 3715 3721 3727 3733 3739 3745 3752 3758 3764 3770 3776 3782 3789 3795 3801 3807 3813 3819 3826 3832 3838 3844 3850 3856 3862 3869 3875 3881 3887 3893 3899 3907 3917 3927 Five or More Children 4066 4073 4079 4086 4093 4100 4106 4113 4120 4127 4134 4140 4147 4154 4161 4167 4174 4181 4188 4195 4201 4208 4215 4222 4228 4235 4242 4249 4255 4262 4269 4276 4283 4289 4298 4308 4319 Printed May 2011 by IOWA LEGAL AID No part of this booklet may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. 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