Whether you currently owe child support or you expect to become a non-custodial parent who owes support after parting ways with your child’s other parent, it is vital to understand the different ways you can make payments. Even though parents often fulfill their support obligations through income withholding, which involves employers taking child support directly out of a worker’s check, some people must find other ways to pay support.

If you are self-employed, you recently lost your job or an income withholding order has not taken effect yet, you should carefully go over other ways you can make payments.

Paying child support with checks, money orders or cash

The Indiana Department of Child Services states that non-custodial parents can make child support payments by mailing a money order or check to the Indiana State Central Collection Unit. If you mail a payment, make sure you include necessary information such as your case number, address, name, phone number, the amount of your payment, the court case number and the last four digits of your SSN.

You can also pay support using cash at many different retail locations across the state or the County Clerk’s Office that issued your support order.

Paying child support online

You can use a debit card or credit card to submit child support payments online or over the phone. If you decide to make a card payment, you should note that certain limits apply and you will have to pay a 2.25% convenience fee.

Finding the most efficient child support payment method could simplify the process of submitting payments and reduce the chances of falling behind.