Michigan Child Support Payments Can Now Be Made at Retail Stores

Whether you and your ex-spouse came to an amicable agreement pertaining to child custody and child support or the courts had to intervene and make the decisions for you, the difficulties of permanent separation may not end with the enactment of the child custody order. Despite the legal split, parents will still have to deal with each other, possibly for years to come, because they must continue to co-parent children.

One of the biggest hurdles for many ex-spouses is the increase in costs that comes with splitting one household into two with no increase in income. This can make it difficult for both parents to make ends meet. Child support payments are intended to balance the situation and ensure that children receive roughly the same level of financial support and care in each household, but in some cases, it’s difficult for the payee to collect, or for the payer to meet obligations.

Michigan has recently moved to increase convenience for those paying child support in an effort to reduce the number of payers in arrears on their child support payments. As of August 2016, the state introduced a new network allowing parents to make child support payments and prominent retail stores.

What is the New System?
Generally speaking, the paying parent wants to make payment in a form that can be traced, such as a check, to ensure there is proof of payment. However, some parents aren’t able to make payment by check, and they don’t want to send cash in the mail. How, then, do they pay their child support?

The new system in Michigan comes in the form of a network called PayNearMe, offered through popular retail locations like CVS, Family Dollar, and 7-Eleven stores. Because of the prevalence of these businesses, the process of paying by cash could become much more convenient than, say, driving to the payee’s house to deliver a child support payment. In addition, it’s a preferable alternative to paying in cash and risking not receiving credit for the payment.

How Does It Work?
The PayNearMe service is similar to Western Union. The payer simply goes into a participating location, receives a unique payment code for the transaction, hands over the cash (along with a fee ranging from $0-5.99), and gets a receipt showing payment was made (as well as confirmation sent to a mobile number). After that, the payee simply visits a nearby location to pick up the payment.

PayNearMe even offers an app so that customers can set reminders to visit participating locations and make cash payments on a schedule. This is a great idea considering payments can take up to three business days to clear, and payers want to make sure the funds are available to be received by payees before applicable due dates.

If you’re having trouble making or receiving child support payments, service like PayNearMe could help to make the process easier. When dealing with delinquencies, however, it’s best to call 248-723-5190 today to discuss your options with a qualified lawyer from The Gucciardo Law Firm.