What is the difference between an administrative and court order of child support?

In Massachusetts, there are two types of orders for child support: administrative and court orders. An administrative order is created by the Department of Revenue’s Child Support Enforcement Division (CSE). This division is responsible for enforcing child support orders and making sure that parents pay their court-ordered payments. A court order is created by a judge in a Massachusetts court. This type of order is based on the laws of Massachusetts and is the legal document that determines what a parent is obligated to pay. The main difference between administrative and court orders is the way they are created and enforced. An administrative order is created by the CSE and enforced by the CSE. A court order is created by a judge and enforced by the court. Another important difference is that with an administrative order, usually both parties have the opportunity to present evidence in a hearing and the CSE makes a decision. With a court order, the decision is made by the judge. In Massachusetts, both administrative and court orders are legally binding and must be followed by the parents. The parent who is obligated to pay child support must make all of the payments in full and on time or they may face consequences such as wage garnishment, a lien on their property, or even jail time.

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What is the difference between an administrative and court order of child support?

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