Under Australian law CSA can collect child support and or spousal maintenance on behalf of the other parent in the US. A parent receiving child care payments living in the US can apply to CSA for an administrative assessment for child support from a person living in Australia. The other parent in the US can also ask CSA to enforce a court order for child support or spousal maintenance made in the US.

What if I disagree with the amount?

If you think the administrative assessment for child support is wrong you should contact CSA to discuss your options. If there is a court order for child support or spousal maintenance and your circumstances have changed, you may be able to apply for the order to be changed. You should seek legal advice about this.

How do I make payments?

You should make payments to CSA in Australia. We will convert your payment to foreign currency and send it to the parent receiving child care payments.

More information on how to make payments.

If you make any payments directly to the receiving parent in the US you must tell CSA.

For more information on direct payments to the other parent contact CSA.

Top of page

I live in Australia and receive child support from the other parent living in the United States

How do I apply?

You can apply to CSA for an administrative assessment of child support from the other parent who lives in the US. CSA will contact the paying parent in the US and seek voluntary payments. If the paying parent does not make voluntary payments CSA can request enforcement of the assessment through the courts and child support enforcement agencies in the US.

If there is an existing court order for child support made in the US CSA may also be able to request enforcement of this order on your behalf.

How is the money collected?

The court and enforcement agencies in the US are responsible for collection and enforcement. The assessment is enforced using the laws of the US.

How will I receive payments?

Payments collected in the US are sent to CSA in Australia. CSA will pay these amounts to your nominated bank account or as a cheque.

Top of page

I live in the United States and pay child support to the other parent in Australia

Why do I have to pay?

A parent receiving child care payments who lives in Australia can apply for an administrative assessment of child support from the other parent who is resident in the US. CSA in Australia will attempt to contact you in the US and seek voluntary payments. If you do not make voluntary payments CSA can request enforcement of the assessment in the US through the courts and enforcement agencies.

If there is an existing court order for child support made in the US CSA may also be able to request enforcement of this order on behalf of the other parent in Australia.

What if I disagree with the amount?

If you disagree with the details of the Australian assessment you should contact CSA to discuss your options. If there is a court order you will need to seek legal advice on how to change the court order.

How do I make payments?

You can make payments directly to the CSA in Australia.

How can I make payments from outside Australia?

If you are required to make payments to a court or enforcement agency in the US, the payments will be sent to CSA and paid to the receiving parent in Australia.

If you make any payments directly to the receiving parent in Australia you must tell CSA.

For more information on direct payments contact CSA.

I live in the United States and receive child support from the other parent living in Australia

How do I apply?

You can ask the Australian CSA to enforce a court order for child support or spousal maintenance made in the US. You can also apply for an administrative assessment for child support from a person living in Australia.

To apply you should contact your local Child Support Enforcement (CSE) office. Check the county listings in your telephone book or call your state CSE office. There is a listing of state CSE offices at the following Web site:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.htm

How is the money collected?

When CSA starts enforcing a court order or a new administrative assessment we will ask the paying parent to pay voluntarily. If the paying parent does not make payments CSA can take steps to collect child support under Australian law.

How will I receive payments?

Payments received by CSA are sent directly to you as a cheque in local currency. Please note that payments can only be sent when they are received from the paying parent and cheques are issued once per month.

Top of page

Print this page

Top of page