Sheila Drewen-Mayer, Paralegal

The processing of the first wage attachments (from Domestic Relations Offices to the employer payroll departments) for support payment can take a long time, leaving families without support monies for many weeks or even months. The Domestic Relations Offices suggest that defendants bring cash or a check to the first support conference in order to make the first support payment. Legally defendants have thirty days to make their monthly payments from the date their account has been charged by the Domestic Relations Offices.

The new guidelines benefit not only the plaintiffs and the parties' children, but also the defendants, who avoid the consequences of automated enforcement remedies, such as credit bureau submissions and account seizures. When defendants wait for their first payments to be made by wage attachments, defendants may have already subjected themselves to the automated enforcement measures. Defendants are responsible to pay the monthly amount ordered at the support conference within thirty days pursuant to the support order. However, as the Director of the Montgomery County Domestic Relations Office stated, "payment is expected" and attorneys shall advise their clients to make that first payment at the first support conference.

If you have further questions, please contact Lance J. Nelson, Esquire, or his Paralegal, Sheila Drewen-Mayer.

MacElree Harvey
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West Chester, PA 19381–0660
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