Child Support

questions & answers

Question: Can the parents agree to pay the child support directly to the other parent without using the clearing house?

Answer:

According to A.R.S. 46-441 (B), "Unless the court orders that support or maintenance be paid directly to the party entitled to receive it, all orders for support shall direct payment of support or maintenance through the support payment clearinghouse. All orders that specify payments through the clerk of the superior court shall be deemed to require payment to the support payment clearinghouse after a notice to the obligor is issued." Under A.R.S. § 25-322 (A), "Except as provided in section 46-441, the court shall order that maintenance or support payments be made to the support payment clearinghouse for remittance to the person entitled to receive the payments unless the parties agree otherwise."

If you would like to know how the laws regarding support apply to your specific situation, you may want to contact an attorney.