A Mission Dedicated to the well-being of all Children
Putting Kids First, Always
The Pay Kids First Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the urgent crisis of child support default and enforcement actions in the United States. Our mission is to shine a powerful spotlight on this issue of crisis proportion, open up a transparent dialog and promote education and the need for reform on this complex issue. We present solutions to improve and update the existing system of enforcement.
Our proposed solutions are many. Some of the first suggested include:
Unified National Code: Enforce a uniform child support enforcement code. All states must adopt it, ensuring uniformity and full reciprocity everywhere.
Government Backed Child Support Payments: The federal government should be authorized to pay monthly child support, acquiring the right of assignment to collect the debt on behalf of the custodial parent.
Restitution of Arrears: Reimburse the custodial parents for the historical unpaid child support due to the systems systemic now at $116 billion.
Willful Blindness – Asset concealment: Any obligated parent debtor, family member, partner, or professional who helps the child support debtor shelter funds or assets would be held fully liable for the debts along with the obligated parent and anyone participating may be held criminally liable as a form of asset concealment, and willful blindness.
The “Carve Out” Rule: To ensure child support debts are fully paid, judgments for child support should be evergreen, meaning they do not expire until the debt is satisfied in full. This “carve out,” also includes child support due amounts supersede garnishment limitations.
Pay Kids First Rule: Following taxes, child support debt should be elevated to a priority credit status, superseding all other outstanding debts, including those with designated beneficiaries on assets.
Transparent Child Support Debtor Taxes: Child support enforcement agencies and state courts require and are given direct access to a debtor's federal tax forms from the IRS, enabling them to fully validate income and assets.
Child Support Debtor Tax Requirement: the ability to submit late state or federal tax filings is disallowed for any individual with outstanding child support debt.
Life Insurance Annual Certificate Rule: each year, the insurance company must issue a certificate to the custodial parent to confirm that the life insurance policy, required by a separation agreement or court, is fully paid and remains active. If found to be in default, the premium can be paid and added to child support due.
DNA for Parentage:
Identifies the biological father: Where paternity is unknown or unclaimed, the law must allow paternity testing/ paternity DNA search to confirm paternity and enforce the responsibility of payment.
Update State Reporting Laws: State reporting laws must be updated to additionally track and disclose individual caseloads by debt severity. This will allow states to analyze and rank their largest cases, leading to better-targeted solutions and complete disclosure of their data to Congress.
The Payback Rule: When taxpayer funds are used to support a child, the obligated parent must provide assigned social services as repayment for the debt owed to taxpayers.
Criminal verses Civil Law: Intentional Default, Asset Concealment, and Willful Blindness are deemed a criminal act: The laws need to be strengthened to make willful nonpayment of child support and those who assist, a criminal act, punishable by criminal statute.
Addressing Gaps in Child Support Enforcement
C – Crisis in the Spotlight
An unsecured long-term debt collection placed on custodial families, mainly women.
H – Help with the Dialog
Bringing this discussion out into the open for crisis awareness and beneficial change.
I – Informed Education for the Listener
The well-being of America's children is a collective responsibility. A child’s healthy development and overall physiological outcomes are linked to a parent's performance in meeting their financial obligations.
L – Lead with Ideas for National Reforms
Propose ideas like those on our sight and others to be proposed for adoption by lawmakers, legal experts, and community advocates to advance meaningful reforms – ensuring every child receives the financial support they deserve supporting a sound equitable financial foundation to a healthy childhood.
D – Design Solutions to Reverse the Trend
Eliminate critical weaknesses and inequities in the current child support enforcement system and empower families with practical resources to protect their rights.
Our Vision
A Fair Future for Every Family
100% of child support is paid, all arrears are resolved, and no child in a financially divided household suffers from iniquities.
100 % of Custodial Parents receive:
⟹ 100 percent of the Child Support Payments
⟹100 percent of the time, on time and
⟹ 100 percent of Child Support arrears is paid in full
Core Objectives
1
Voice For Change
Identify and highlight the critical weaknesses and inequities within the current child support enforcement system, and present ideas for changes which will bring improvement.
2
Innovate & Advocate
Create bold, data-driven national uniform strategies aimed at alleviating the burden of child support arrears, improving compliance, and fostering long-term financial stability for children.
3
Reverse the Trend
Combat the increasing rate of child support defaults through proactive policy reforms, heightened public awareness, and strategic legislative partnerships.
4
Collaborate for Change
Partner with lawmakers, legal experts, and community advocates to drive meaningful reforms, ensuring that every child receives the financial support they rightfully deserve.
Be the Change for Children Today
Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of children and families in need. By donating today, you help the organization provide essential resources, advocate for meaningful reforms, and ensure that every child receives the financial support they deserve.