Child Support Links
Dept. of Revenue Links
Enforcement of Child Support Orders
A child support order tells the parents what they must do to support their children. Enforcing child support orders means getting the parent to do what the order says.
Some of the ways we get parents to pay are:
- Notify the parents when they miss payments
- Suspend Florida driver licenses
- Take IRS tax refunds
- Take Florida Lottery winnings if over $600
- Take support payments from workers’ compensation and reemployment assistance (formerly unemployment compensation)
- Tell employers to take payments from paychecks
- Place liens on the parent's car, boat, or other property
- Report past due support to credit agencies
- Place a hold and take money from bank accounts
- Take the case to court because the parent did not do what the order says
- Work with the court to issue a writ, also known as an arrest warrant. If you would like to see if there is a writ on your case, please use the Department of Revenue's Writ Search Site.
- Collect Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
Collect Medical Expenses Not Covered by Insurance
If you are owed child support and you have paid medical expenses for the child, you should read your support order. If your support order says the parent ordered to pay support must pay all or part of the child’s medical expenses not covered by insurance, that parent may be required to pay you back for some of those expenses.
Before our office can help you collect that money, you must ask the other parent to pay directly to you what they owe for the medical expenses you have paid.
When asking the other parent for their part of the medical expenses, you should follow the instructions in your support order.
If your support order does not give instructions, you may want to include the following in your written request to the other parent:
- The date you are making the request
- The name of the child who received the medical service
- The name of the doctor or medical provider
- The type of medical service received
- The date the medical service was received
- The amount you paid for the service
- The amount the other parent owes you for their part of the medical expense
- The date by which the other parent should pay you
If your support order does not say how much time to wait for payment, you may want to give the other parent 30 days from the date you give them your request.
You may also want to give the other parent copies of the medical bills and the proof that you paid them.
Keep a copy of your written request and all attachments for yourself. If the other parent does not pay you their part of the medical expenses and you want our help collecting, we will need a copy of everything you sent to the other parent.
Parents can avoid these actions by paying their child support and doing what the order says.