If you are preparing to end your marriage and you have kids, or you are a parent who recently got a divorce, you need to take a close look at various issues regarding child support. In Washington, there are a number of ways you can make payments.
Unfortunately, some parents fall behind on child support because they do not have a clear understanding of their payment options or they do not make payments properly.
How can you pay child support?
According to the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, you can pay child support in various ways. Although most child support payments are withheld from a non-custodial parent’s wages, some people (such as self-employed workers) need to make payments in other ways.
You can have payments automatically deducted from your bank account or you can send payments through the mail (make sure you provide your Social Security Number). You can also make in-person payments at nine locations across the state. In addition, there are a number of outside vendors that can allow you to make online payments, but you have to make sure you provide various details (such as your child support account number) correctly.
What should you know about child support payments through outside vendors?
If you use an outside vendor to make child support payments, you need to realize certain important details. For example, you could have to pay fees when using one of these services. Moreover, their privacy and security policies may differ and processing times vary. If you have to make payments, make sure you do everything in your power to stay current and avoid falling behind.
