Child Support Plan First in State

Child support plan 1st in state

By DENISE SULLIVAN

Staff Writer

MEDINA — The county prosecutor's office, domestic relations court and the Child Support Enforcement Agency have teamed up to create a way to collect back child support payments.

The program, which is the first in Ohio and second in the country, allows the court to order payments from 401(k) plans and other retirement assets of parents who owe back child support, a press release states.

"As is often the case in a divorce, parents have to take the amount of money used to support one household and stretch it to support two," Domestic Relations Judge Mary Kovack said. "In many situations, there is just not enough money to support two homes."

Kovack noted the new project is "win-win" for parents and children. Children are guaranteed financial support without having to rely on costly court proceedings, and there is no longer a threat of jail or prison time for parents who cannot make ends meet, she said.

"It's a great program that's entirely positive," county Prosecutor Dean Holman said. "It serves to get children money they need for food, clothing and life's other needs."

He noted most parents who have retirement assets are trying to work to pay child support, but may fall behind if they are laid off or switch jobs.

The prosecutor's office and the Child Support En-forcement Agency are currently identifying parents who owe at least $2,000 in back child support. A Medina-based retirement asset consulting firm, QDRO Consultants, will then investigate if those parents have a 401(k) or other retirement assets.

Kovack must first sign a domestic relations order, which is then reviewed by QDRO. If the order meets the necessary criteria, it qualifies. The order then is forwarded to the person's employer, QDRO co-manager David Kelley said.

"It's a powerful but little-known tool," he said. "It's not punitive. It's not jailing someone. It's not taking money out of a paycheck that a parent can't spare right now."

Kelley, along with co-manager Gary A. Schul-man, piloted the only other similar program more than a year ago in Texas. That program has been met with success, Kelley noted.

Parents who are owed back child support and know or suspect the other parent has a retirement ac-count should contact Denise Weingart at the prosecutor's office, 330-764-9654.

Sullivan may be reached at 330-721-4064 or dsullivan@ohio.net.