Court-ordered child support legally binds one parent to make payments to the other. When a parent is financially responsible for the care of a child, those needs don’t diminish just because the parent is unable to pay. The reasons for nonpayment may be understandable, such as when a parent loses a job, has a medical emergency or simply doesn’t have the means to get the necessary funds to the custodial parent. However, the state of Missouri just approved of a way to simplify paying child support. Parents can now use online payment apps to honor their commitment.
In the past, parents would often have to pay in person, through an online portal, over the phone or via mail. These methods are still in use, but now parents have the option of using PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay as well. The state says that many people already use these apps for other financial transactions, so it made sense to utilize them for child support payments. It offers parents a way to make a contactless payment over their mobile device without even leaving home.
The Missouri Department of Social Services warns parents that they will incur a convenience fee of 2.5% for using a payment app. They also advise that other methods will not result in any extra cost. Still they are optimistic that this will help parents out a great deal in making their necessary payments, which can only benefit the children who rely on them.
Most parents want to do whatever it takes to care for their children. Determining an official agreement for child support is often part of that. A parent who has difficulty paying or receiving payment for any reason may want to work with a family law attorney here in Missouri to find a possible resolution. What’s most important in any of these agreements is the well-being of the children.
