In Vermont, support is paid in one of three ways:

1. Employers withhold wages and send support payments to the OCS Registry;
2. Non-custodial parents send support payments directly to the OCS Registry (the court must waive wage withholding);or
3. Non-custodial parents send support payments directly to custodial parents without involving the OCS Registry (both parents must request this arrangement and the court must approve).

What is the OCS Registry?

The OCS Registry is responsible for:

• Processing support collections and disbursements;
• Maintaining records of child support accounts, including information about the parents and other parties involved;
• Providing records of payments made and received when requested by either parent; and
• Notifying employers of wage-withholding orders.

Registry-Only Cases

A Registry-Only case is one in which:

1. A Vermont court has ordered the payment of support through the OCS Registry;
2. Neither parent has applied for our services; AND
3. The custodial parent is not receiving public assistance or Medicaid.

OCS must comply with all court orders governing Registry-Only cases. We cannot stop, change, divert, or enforce the payment of support—unless directed by the court to do so. If you want other services from us, such as help locating the non-custodial parent or enforcing a support order, you must apply for our services. 

If you do not request services, we will record any late or missing payments, but will not contact employers or non-custodial parents.

Fees for Registry-Only Cases

There is a fee of $5.00 each month a payment is recorded. The non-custodial parent receives credit for the full payment, while the custodial parent receives $5 less than what was paid.(The law allows Family Court to increase monthly support to take administrative costs into account—unless the non-custodial parent is below the poverty level.)

By law, the fee is deducted from the first support payment received each month. If no support is received in a month, there is no charge that month. If two or more payments are received in a month, there is only one $5 charge—even if the payments cover more than one month’s support. There will also be subpoena and witness fees if OCS employees are required to testify in court about Registry-Only payments.

Fees can be avoided by applying for our services. As soon as you start receiving  services (usually within days of applying):

1. Your case ceases to be a Registry-Only case;
2. There are no more monthly fees; and
3. We can provide you with the full array of available services.

Do I have to pay support through wage withholding?

Vermont law requires all child support orders issued after June 1990 to include wage withholding through the OCS Registry, unless:

• Both parents ask to handle support payments on their own AND the court waives the wage withholding requirement; or
• The non-custodial parent is self-employed. In these cases, the court typically instructs the non-custodial parent to pay support directly to the OCS Registry. If the non-custodial parent later becomes an employee, wage withholding is required.

Wage withholding is a convenient way to pay child support. Payments are taken right from the non-custodial parent’s wages (or unemployment compensation) and sent to the OCS Registry for processing and disbursement. It creates an accurate record of support payments made and received, helping to eliminate disputes.
 

More Info/Assistance

Click here to learn how to apply for OCS services.

If you need more information or help making your support payments, please contact the OCSHelpline at 1-800-786-3214 or OCSCSU@ahs.state.vt.us.

For more detailed information about paying support and other child-support related topics, you should read:

Child Support in Vermont: A Handbook for Parents (pdf)