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Child Support Terminology   C Case All data associated with a person with dependent children who seeks IV-D assistance in obtaining child support payments from a non-custodial parent. Case Number A court-assigned case ID number (also called Cause Number in the courts). The number is either assigned by the Clerk of Court, or the system will assign the next highest number from a block of numbers provided by the Clerk of Court. Case Status The stage to which a case has progressed. For example, 'Pending Establishment of Paternity'. Central Registry A Central Registry is a centralized unit maintained by every State IV-D agency that is responsible for receiving, distributing and responding to inquiries on interstate IV-D cases. Centralized Collection Unit A Centralized Collection Unit is a single, centralized site in each State IV-D agency to which employers can send child support payments they have collected for processing. This centralized payment-processing site is called the State Disbursement Unit (SDU) and is responsible for collecting, distributing and disbursing child support payments Child Support Child support is financial support paid by a parent to help support a child or children of whom they do not have full custody. Child support can be entered into voluntarily or ordered by a court or a properly empowered administrative agency, depending on each State's laws. Child support can involve cases where: IV-D cases, where the custodial party (CP) is receiving child support services offered by State and local agencies. Such services include locating a non-custodial parent (NCP) or Putative Father (PF); establishing paternity; establishing, modifying and enforcing child support orders; collecting, distributing and disbursing child support payments IV-A cases, where the CP is receiving public assistance benefits where the case is automatically referred to the State Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) so the State can recoup the cost of the benefits from the NCP or defray future costs IV-E cases, where the child(ren) is being raised not by one of their own parents but in the foster care system by a person, family or institution where the case is also automatically referred to the State CSEA to recoup or defray the costs of foster care Non-IV-D orders, where the case or legal order is privately entered into and the CSEA is not providing locate, enforcement or collection services; often entered into during divorce proceedings The support can come in different forms, including: Medical support, where the child(ren) are provided with health coverage, through private insurance from the NCP or public assistance that is reimbursed in whole or in part by the NCP, or a combination thereof Monetary payments, in the form of a one-time payment, installments or regular automatic withholdings from the NCP's income, or the offset of State and/or Federal tax refunds and/or administrative payments made to the NCP, such as Federal retirement benefits Child Support Officer (CSO) The IV-D staff member responsible for client interviews and case management. Same as Caseworker, Interviewer, Advocate, and User. Citation An order or summons of the court that notifies a non-custodial parent of judicial proceedings against him or her, and that directs him or her to appear before a magistrate or judge at a specific time. Client A client is the recipient of a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant or IV-D services. Common Law A body of law developed from judicial decisions or custom rather than legislative enactments. Complainant Person who seeks to initiate court or administrative proceedings against another person. In a civil case the complainant is the plaintiff; in a criminal case the complainant is the State. Complaining Witness See Custodial Party. Complaint The formal written document filed in a court or administrative tribunal whereby the person initiating the action sets forth the names of the parties, the allegations, and the request for relief sought; the initial pleading, sometimes called the petition. Consent Agreement A voluntary written admission of paternity or responsibility for child support and/or health insurance. Continuing Exclusive Jurisdiction (CEJ) CEJ is the doctrine that only one support order should be effective and enforceable between the same parties at any one time and that when a particular court has acquired jurisdiction to determine child support and custody, it retains authority to amend and modify its orders therein. Court of Continuing Exclusive Jurisdiction (CCEJ) The CCEJ continues to have jurisdiction over a support issue until another court takes it away. Defined in the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). Cooperation An eligibility condition of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Foster Care, Medicaid, or certain Food Stamp cases under which the recipient is required to cooperate with the child support agency in identifying and locating the non-custodial parent, establishing paternity, and/or obtaining child support payments. Court Order Every direction of a judge to a person made or entered in writing and not included in a judgment. CP See "Custodial Party" Credit Report System Reports the names of non-custodial parents who have court orders requiring that they pay support, to all major credit reporting companies as good or bad credit risks. Current Support A continuing monetary obligation of the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent and/or welfare department that is paid cyclically and determined by both the non-custodial parent's ability to pay and the needs of the child or children. Custodial Party Person who has legal custody of the child(ren), and to whom child support is paid. Custody Legal custody is a determination by a court which establishes with whom a child will live. Physical custody describes with whom the child is living regardless of the legal custody status. Joint custody occurs when two persons share legal and/or physical custody of the child(ren). Split custody occurs when 2 or more children from the same parents are in the legal custody of different people. Custody Order A custody order is a legally binding determination that establishes with whom a child shall live. Back to Terminology Index