When a child support agreement is in effect in California, there are rules about how the payments must be made. For example, it wouldn’t be a good idea for you to simply hand the cash to the custodial parent and tell them it’s their child support. In fact, in California, you’re required to send your payments to the State Disbursement Unit. It is then sent to the appropriate parties.
This extra step actually makes sense
While it may seem like a hassle, paying directly to the State Disbursement Unit actually has several advantages. First of all, there’s never a question of whether or not the payment was sent and received by the plaintiff – at least not in the eyes of the court. It also prevents the parents from having to contact one another, which can be a blessing in many California child support arrangements. Put simply, this arrangement makes it easy to both track and verify payments.
Option One: A check can be sent by the State Disbursement Unit
With one option, the parent receiving support can elect to have a bank check mailed to them. This is perhaps the simplest option because it doesn’t depend on technology at all. The only complication is that the check must obviously be cashed and some banks may have a waiting period before the funds become available. As a result, it’s not the ideal choice for everyone.
Option Two: Electronic Payment Card
Think of the Electronic Payment Card, or EPC, as another type of debit card. The child support is sent to the State Disbursement Unit and they then add the funds to the card. The advantages to this option is that the funds can be access more quickly than cashing a check, there’s no risk of losing the money, and it can be spent in the same way you’d spend any money on a debit card.
Option Three: Have the funds direct deposited
The final option is somewhat like a combination of options one and two. In this option, the State Disbursement Unit sends the funds to your bank via electronic payment. Once your bank receives the funds, you can either use your debit card to spend the funds or you can visit the bank and withdraw the money just like you would any other cash. This saves a trip because you don’t have to cash a check and if you shop online it’s doubly convenient because the money is automatically there.
It’s easy to see that each option has its advantages and disadvantages. If you have any questions about spousal support, child support, or other family law issues, contact Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell today at 909-482-1422. We can help you no matter where you are in the process, if you’re trying to get back support or set up child support in the first place.
