Judiciary seeks comments for child support guidelines review
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Family Court Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri has been directed to conduct a review of the child support guidelines, including an examination of the assumptions, information and methodology that provide the basis for the current guidelines. The committee would appreciate comment from the public and members of the Bar.
Comments can be provided to the committee through testimony at the following hearings:
- 1 p.m. Friday, March 4 in Courtroom S01 at the St. Louis County Courts Building, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton
- 1 p.m. Thursday, March 10 in the Division 34 Courtroom at the Jackson County Courthouse, 308 West Kansas Avenue, Independence
- 10 a.m. Friday, March 11 in the Division 25 Courtroom at the Historic Greene County Courthouse, 940 North Boonville Avenue, Springfield
- 1 p.m. Thursday, March 17 in the 3W Courtroom at the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut Street, Columbia
- 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 22 in the Division 3 Courtroom at the Scott County Courthouse, 131 South Winchester Street, Benton
To accommodate all individuals who wish to testify, comments will need to be limited to the guidelines and the determination of child support. The committee cannot consider revisions to current state laws or issues related to the child support collection process, or enforcement or modification of child support orders, as these are outside the committee's authority and scope.
Any individual who wishes to testify and is in need of special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Rick Morrisey at (573) 526-8825.
Written comments may be sent via postal mail to:
Child Support Comments
c/o Office of State Courts Administrator
PO Box 104480
Jefferson City, MO 65110
Comments also may be sent via e-mail to: childsupportcomments@courts.mo.gov.
All comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, April 1, 2016.
The Federal Family Support Act of 1988 requires each state to maintain uniform child support guidelines and criteria and review the guidelines and criteria at least once every four years. The Court is required, pursuant to section 452.340.8, RSMo, to review the child support guidelines every four years to ensure that application results in appropriate child support awards. The most recent review was in 2012.
Below are links to information that may be helpful:
- Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 452: Dissolution of Marriage, Divorce, Alimony and Separate Maintenance
- Rule 88 – Dissolution, Legal Separation and Child Support
- Form 14 Child Support Worksheet and instructions
- In Your Child's Best Interest parenting handbook
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