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The Kentucky Legislature has established a mathematical formula for setting support. Both parties’ income, medical insurance costs, day care expenses and child support being paid for older children are all factored into the formula to arrive at the amount of support to be paid.

If there is a change in circumstances (i.e. change in one or both parties’ income, an older child being emancipated) that results in a change in the amount of child support of at least 15%, then the amount can be changed.

A motion to modify support must be filed with the same court that set the support originally. Only a court order signed by the judge can legally change the amount of child support. If both parties agree, an agreed order can be signed by both sides and the judge. Without an agreement, there must be a hearing in court and the judge decides.

The obligation to pay child support stops in most cases when the child becomes emancipated. This occurs in most cases when the child turns 18 or graduated from high school, whichever occurs later.

No. The parent paying the support must file a motion with the court to have the amount of support reduced.

The child support office in the county where the support was first ordered can help you enforce the order against the parent who is not paying. Several options are available including holding the paying parent in contempt of court and bringing criminal charges. Information you have about the paying parent’s address and place of employment can be very helpful.

The Hopkins County Child Support Office has over 5,000 active cases. It can take two or three weeks to get an appointment to meet with an attorney when you want some court action on your case. Also, the courts can only handle so many cases a month. We have over 200 court hearings per month on child support matters in Hopkins County.

The legal obligation to pay child support is completely separate from the issue of visitation rights. if you are court ordered to pay child support, you must do so regardless of when or if you see the children. If there is a court order giving you visitation and the custodial parent refuses to let you see the children, your recourse is to file a motion with the court asking that he/she be held in contempt of court.

Be sure to include your name and social security number. Mail your payment to: Division of Child Support P.O. Box 14059 Lexington, Kentucky 40512-4059 (800) 443-1576

A man who has acknowledged or recognized the paternity of a child by completing, with the child’s mother, a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.

A man who has been found, by entry of a legal judgment, to be the father of a child born out of wedlock.

The process whereby a noncustodial parent’s or obligor’s objections to an administrative action taken by the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) are heard by an impartial hearing officer upon a timely request. A custodial parent may request an administrative hearing if he or she disagrees with the result of a modification review.

A written statement made under oath before a notary public testifying that the information being provided is true and correct.

Refers to a child who has attained “legal age” or “adulthood.” In Kentucky, the age of majority is 18 or age 19 for an unmarried child who is a full-time high school student, but not beyond the completion of the school year during which the child reaches the age of 19 years. The age of majority is generally the age at which support payments are terminated unless the child is still in high school or is disabled.

A judgment reached by agreement of the parties involved.

The man named as the possible biological father of a child born out of wedlock.

A person who has requested IV-D services, either from an area child support office or from a contracting official.

The total unpaid support obligation owed by a noncustodial parent or obligor.

The amount of arrears that are not specified in a court or administrative order, but which accrue due to nonpayment of support. Accrued arrearages are fully enforceable and automatically become a judgment on the date that the unpaid support is due.

The amount of arrears reduced to a judgment or specified in a court or administrative order.

Any unpaid child support owed to a custodial parent which he or she assigns as a condition for receiving public assistance services. In addition, an assigned arrearage is an arrearage that accrues during the time K-TAP is or was received.

Support owed to a custodial parent which has accrued after IV-D services are stopped.

The grant or money payment made to a needy family by either the K-TAP or FC program.

The necessity for a person to confirm or prove a fact in dispute on an issue raised between the parties.

The state agency responsible for providing services to Kentuckians in need.

This term refers to an individual who is the custodian of the children) but who is not the biological mother or father of the child(ren).

The money paid by a person specifically to provide for the needs of a minor child.

A judicial and/or an administrative action taken under Kentucky law to establish an amount of money to be paid by a noncustodial parent or obligor to provide for the needs of a minor child.

Sets forth a recommendation for the physical support of children based on a determination of income available to both parents.

A case in which there is little or no potential for successfully completing action now or in the future.

An agreement between a legally competent man and a legally competent woman to contract a marriage. The term refers to a marriage which occurs without a religious or a civil ceremony. The man and woman must have lived together and indicated to the community that they were husband and wife.

Delinquent taxes may be paid in person by visiting the Hopkins County Clerk’s Office at  24 Union Street, Madisonville, KY. If you are unable to visit our office, full payment can be mailed by personal check, cashier’s check, money order, or certified check to: Hopkins County Clerk 24 Union Street Madisonville, Kentucky, 42431

Yes. A lien is filed against real property you own in Hopkins County. The lien is filed with the Hopkins County Clerk’s Office and is a public record of the amount you owe. It could affect your ability to obtain credit or sell real estate. The cost of releasing the lien will be added to the delinquent tax account at the time the lien is filed.

Yes.  The Hopkins County Attorney’s office can create a payment plan for delinquent tax bills when payment in full cannot be made.  Delinquent tax bills on a compliant payment plan will be marked as “unavailable for sale” with the Hopkins County Clerk’s office therefore removing the risk of the bill being purchased by a third-party purchaser.  To obtain more information on delinquent tax payment plans, please contact Angie Hill by calling 270-821-3164 or by emailing [email protected]

Kentucky law allows any individual or company to purchase taxpayers’ delinquent tax bills that have not been previously purchased by the state or sold and recorded in the Hopkins County Clerk’s Office. The purchase can neither be anticipated nor prevented by the Hopkins County Clerk or the Hopkins County Attorney.  The Hopkins County Clerk will hold an annual sale of delinquent tax bills.  A specific date is set on a yearly basis but the sale is normally held in October.

The tax bill is converted to a “Certificate of Delinquency” which the buyer will receive from the County Clerk’s Office as a piece of paper or an electronic record. The buyer has fifty (50) days to give you notice he has bought your tax bill. Payment must be sent directly to the buyer, along with the associated penalties and interest assessed by the buyer. Once you pay the buyer, he will surrender the certificate to you, so that it may be presented to the County Clerk for lien release.

The buyer may institute a foreclosure action in court against you for the unpaid debt one (1) year after the creation of the certificate of delinquency. However, some buyers may be in no hurry to collect the debt, given the high interest rates charged, and may simply hold the certificate as long as your equity in the property exceeds the tax debt. The statute of limitations for the certificate of delinquency is 10 years.

Yes. A delinquent tax collection fee and interest will be added to the total amount due when it becomes delinquent. Currently the fees are penalties, cost of advertising, lien filing fee, County Attorney fee, County Clerk fee. A third party purchaser may also add other costs to your bill.