Effective Sept. 1, 2003, all new child support orders established in Harris County must direct the child support payments to the Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit.
Attorneys handling actions related to child support, medical support and spousal maintenance should be aware of the changes so they may draft proper instruments and accurately inform their clients about the process.
The Office of the Attorney General of Texas has issued guidance on language that should be included in new child support orders.
The guidance is in this notice:
NOTICE
Effective September 1, 2003
In accordance with the mandates outlined in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the Office of the Attorney General has begun redirecting child support payments withheld by employers in Harris County to the Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit (TxCSDU).
All new suits for divorce, and original petition in suits affecting the parent child relationship orders established in Harris County must direct the child support payments to the TxCSDU. The Office of the Attorney General recommends the following language be included in new child support orders:
PAYMENT OF SUPPORT
The court orders [obligor name] to pay all support to:
Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 659791
San Antonio, Texas 78265-9791
For distribution according to law All payments shall be identified by:
Obligor name
Obligee name
Cause number
Date on which the withholding occurred
All payments received by the TxCSDU on non-IV-D child support orders (orders not enforced by the Office of the Attorney General) will be disbursed to the custodial parent. Therefore, payments for medical support and spousal maintenance may also be ordered to the TxCSDU if the payments are payable to the same person receiving the child support. Court costs and fees must be paid to Harris County. Attorney fees must be paid to the county or directly to the attorney.
Please contact Tammy Oliver with the District Clerk's Office at (713) 755-5761 or email any questions to childsup@dco.co.harris.tx.us. You can also contact Karla McDougal with the Office of the Attorney General at (512) 460-6167 or email her at karla.mcdougal@cs.oag.state.tx.us.
