{"id":375398,"date":"2025-04-30T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/north-carolina-law\/north-carolina-child-support-payments.html"},"modified":"2025-04-30T23:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T04:00:00","slug":"north-carolina-child-support-payments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/north-carolina-law\/north-carolina-child-support-payments.html","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Child Support Payments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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North Carolina Child Support Payments<\/h1>\n
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\n By Kit Yona, M.A.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Child support in North Carolina ensures that both parents financially support their children until they are 18 or 20 if they are still in high school. Typically, the non-custodial parent pays the custodial parent, covering essentials like food, shelter, and education. Child support payments are managed by the NC Child Support Centralized Collection, often through income withholding. Other payment methods include credit cards, bank drafts, and eWallets. Custodial parents receive funds via direct deposit or a ncKIDSCARD debit card.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Under Title IV-D<\/a> of the 1975 Social Security Act, all states must have a program to collect and allocate child support payments. This is to ensure the child has their basic needs met. This article will examine which parent receives child support payments<\/a>, which agency handles the process, and the payment types available. Read on for a better understanding of child support payments in North Carolina.<\/p>\r\n

North Carolina Child Support Payments – Obligations<\/h2>\r\n

Parents are obligated by law<\/a> to provide for their children. This lasts until the child is 18. If the child hasn’t graduated from high school, the duration is extended to age 20. Child support obligations can end before 18 if the child becomes emancipated<\/a>. Ways this can happen include:<\/p>\r\n