When one parent is unemployed or underemployed, courts can factor that parent’s earning capacity (instead of their actual earnings) in making its child support determination. This “imputed income” prevents parents from avoiding their child support obligations by not working or by working less than their capability.

When there are concerns about a parent’s willingness to comply with child support orders, wage garnishment can ensure that the financial needs of a child are met consistently, by collecting support payments at the source: right from the payor’s paycheck.