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 ABSENT PARENT (AP): See Non-custodial parent. Absent Parent or AP is another
name for non-custodial parent.
ALLEGED FATHER: A man whose legal relationship to a child has not yet been
legally established.
ARREARAGE: The total unpaid child support obligation owed by a parent who is
obligated by an administrative or district court to pay support.
CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES: A standard method for setting child support
obligations based on the income of the parent(s) and other factors as determined by State
law.
SHOW CAUSE CONTEMPT: A district court proceeding to enforce the court's
orders. A contempt action may be filed, for example, if a parent has willfully failed to
pay child support. If found guilty, the court can impose a fine or incarceration or both.
The court must set a purge fee if incarceration is imposed.
CUSTODIAL PARENT: Within the child support program the parent or custodial
person who has legal or physical custody of a child and the right to receive child support
on behalf of the child.
DEFAULT: Failure of a person, usually the defendant to file an answer,
response, or appeal in a civil case within a certain number of days after having been
served with a summons and petition.
DEFAULT JUDGMENT: Decision made by the court when the defendant fails to
respond. Normally, the party asking for relief from the court will be granted everything
requested in the petition or motion when the other party is in default.
DEFENDANT: The party in a court action who is being sued.
FRAUD: False statements including statements made to state officials with
the intent of wrongfully receiving public assistance. Within the child support program,
fraud most commonly refers to the custodian receiving child support payments and not
reporting them while receiving WFFA.
IMMEDIATE INCOME WITHHOLDING: A way to collect support through mandatory
payroll deduction. Income withholding can be ordered at the time a support order is
established or enforced. An income withholding does not necessarily mean that the employee
is behind in his/her support payments.
LIEN: A cause filed in court to attach a portion or all of an obligor's real
or personal property. Generally, liens are placed on property owned by a judgment debtor
or through workers' compensation court against any settlements that might be reached
LOCATE: Process of obtaining a verified address or employer for a
non-custodial parent in order to begin child support establishment or enforcement.
NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT (NCP): Any individual who is absent from the home and
is legally responsible for providing financial support for one or more children. The
non-custodial parent is also referred to as the absent parent, obligor, or responsible
parent.
OBLIGATION: Amount of money to be paid as support by the responsible parent
according to law.
PATERNITY: Fatherhood; male parentage.
PATERNITY ORDER: An order entered in an action brought to establish the
paternity of a child born out of wedlock.
PETITION: A written request that is filed in district court to initiate a
legal action.
PURGE FEE: The purge fee is what a person must pay or do to get out or stay
out of jail. The purge fee is set when the person is found guilty of contempt of court.
SUBPOENA: A process commanding a witness to appear in district court, give
testimony and bring specific documents, if requested.
SUMMONS: A legal notice to a person of a suit pending in court which
requires an answer or appearance.
SUPPORT ORDER: A legal document that establishes a child support obligation
by a court order.
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