Under the guidelines, child support payments can be adjusted to recognize a child's special expenses or to prevent financial hardship for a parent or child in extraordinary circumstances. The new child support system also includes new tax rules for child support payments. The new tax treatment will apply to all new child support orders made on or after May 1, 1997. However, if either spouse with an existing child support order wishes to change their order, they have a right to do so and the new tax laws will apply to their new child support order. In the National Capital Region, call 946-2222.
Information is also available on the Internet.