**GAO-08-100**                      Published: Jan 23, 2008. Publicly Released: Jan 23, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

Recognizing the importance of child support, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 requires that if a parent with child support obligations files for bankruptcy, a bankruptcy trustee must notify the relevant custodial parent and state child support enforcement agency so that they may participate in the case. The act also required GAO to study the feasibility of matching bankruptcy records with child support records to assure that filers with child support obligations are identified. GAO therefore (1) identified the percent of bankruptcy filers with obligations nationwide, (2) examined the potential for routine data matching to facilitate the identification of filers with child support obligations, and (3) studied the feasibility and cost of doing so. GAO interviewed child support enforcement and bankruptcy officials at the federal level and in six states. GAO also conducted a nationwide test data match and reviewed national bankruptcy filings for people with support obligations in Texas for an indication of whether filers are failing to provide this information.

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## Topics

Worker and Family Assistance

BankruptcyChild support paymentsCost analysisData collectionData integrityDatabasesstate relationsLaw enforcementNoncompliancePolicy evaluationProgram evaluationSocial security numberStrategic planningData coordinationData sharingProgram goals or objectives