Support Payment Logistics

Child support and spousal maintenance payments are typically made on a monthly basis and can be arranged through various payment methods, including:

• Direct Payments: The paying party makes support payments directly to the receiving party through cash or a check.  In some cases, payment is made to a third party, like a child support enforcement agency or a designated third party.
• Wage Garnishment: Support payments may be withheld directly from the payor’s paycheck through wage garnishment or income withholding orders, ensuring timely and consistent payments. This is most common when the payor has failed to make payments or has been difficult to work with on support.
• Electronic Transfers: Payments may be made electronically through bank transfers, online payment platforms, or electronic funds transfer (EFT) systems, providing convenience and efficiency for both parties. This is often the best way to make sure payments are made regularly and on time.

The timing of payments can be on a set date monthly, twice a month in equal parts, or commensurate with your pay periods. The timing is often dictated in your final divorce agreements.

For documentation, it is best to make the payments as scheduled and in the proper amount to establish a clear record. It’s not advisable to reimburse each other with the payments (by accepting less or more than the ordered support amount in reflection of other expenses) because it makes the reimbursements more difficult to track. Reimbursements for other expenses should be made separately.