Child Support

All families receive effective and culturally appropriate services and help parents to provide for their children with quality and fair child support orders.

White Earth Nation Child Support Program provides services such as paternity establishment, locate, modifications, order establishments and enforcements. We service the counties of Becker, Mahnomen, and Clearwater on/off the reservation beyond a 50-100 mile radius off the reservation boundaries.

Our mission of the White Earth Nation Child Support Program is to advocate for children and their need for regular child support and strives to improve their wellbeing and their future.

Sometimes the non-custodial parent (NCP) is unable to be located resulting in delays in establishing paternity, court orders and enforcing child support income withholding orders. White Earth Nation child support staff utilizes various locating resources and methods to locate the NCP. These tools can include local, state, federal and internet-based information. White Earth Nation Child Support uses Federal Parent Locating Service (FPLS) provided by the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE).

Paternity establishment is the legal process of determining the biological father of a child. When parents are married, in most cases, paternity is established without legal action and the father’s name is placed on the birth certificate. If parents are unmarried, paternity establishment requires a court order and/or genetic testing. A buccal swab (saliva sample) is collected and sent to the laboratory for testing. Either parent may request a genetic test. If the alleged father (ALF) believes to be the genetic father to the child both parents are required to complete the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement Form (VPA). Paternity can also be established or adjudicated by a court order if a party refuses to submit to genetic testing.

There are different types of enforcements including Income Withholding Orders (IWO), self-pay, and Contempt (failure to pay child support). Establishing a Child Support Obligation does not guarantee the non-custodial parent will pay the amount of child support as ordered. There may be a time when the NCP makes partial payments, pays sporadically or not at all. White Earth Child Support identifies cases and will utilize the proper enforcements to assist in collecting the ordered amounts. The Child Support Department is committed to ensure that all funds received are disbursed to the proper party in a timely manner. All child support payments are distributed via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Funds are disbursed according to the Federal Guidelines, recognizing families first. All custodial parents (CP) are required to provide a personal checking/savings account or they can apply for a SMIOne Visa cardd for child support purposes to transfer payments to their account. Non-custodial parents may make payments to:

White Earth Nation Child Support Payment Center
Box 387
White Earth, MN 56591

All custodial parents (CP) are required to provide a personal checking/savings account, or they can apply for a White Earth Credit Union debit card ( change to SMI One Debit Card) for child support purposes to transfer payments to their account.

A Modification may be requested by either party on the case. A request for modification by either party must be done verbally or by a handwritten notarized statement, citing reasons for the review. To modify an order, it is presumed that there has been a substantial change in circumstances for either party. The stipulations are that the income has either increased/decreased by 20% of the original ordered amount or at least a $75 increase/decrease. Modifications can also be made if a child under the court order emancipates. The White Earth Child Support Office may also do a review and request a modification to the current child support order. Modifications can be made one time in a calendar year unless otherwise noted in a court order.

Sending Requests to White Earth Nation to Register Income Withholding Orders with Tribal Court

If the employer is subject to the jurisdiction of the White Earth Nation, the CSO must send all of the following documents to the White Earth Nation Child Support Office to implement Income Withholding:

• Federal Federal Tribal Child Support Enforcement Transmittal #1- Initial request form requesting income withholding
• F0209 Registration Statement
• F0023 Income Withholding for Support
• One certified copy of all support orders and of subsequent cost of living adjustments

Q: What is child support?
A: Child support is the court ordered payment made by a non-custodial parent to support a minor child(ren) that do not live with them. The purpose of child support is to protect the child from economic financial impacts. Determinations of child support amounts varies on a case by case basis.

Q: How do I go about applying for child support services with White Earth Child Support?
A:You may stop at the child support office located in the Judicial Department at the RBC Headquarters, call the WEN Child Support Office and request an application and financial affidavit be mailed to you, or visit the White Earth Nation Website and download the application and financial affidavit, you can also apply for services online through the website

Q: What forms can be found online?
A: Printable: Application for Child Support Services, Change of Address, Financial Affidavit, Paternity Affidavit, Release of Information, Payment History Request, and Review and Modification Request
Online Submissions: Application for Child Support, Financial Affidavit, Paternity Affidavit and Change of Address Form

Q: Is there an application fee?
A: No, there are no fees to apply for services.

Q: Can I apply at White Earth Nation Child Support office if neither party is enrolled or a descendant of White Earth Nation?
A: Yes, you can apply at any IV-D Child Support office you choose
If my case is within the county can I receive help from WEN CSP filling out/understanding paperwork?
Yes, WEN CSP staff are available to assist with paperwork and offer explanations of terms and processes.

Q: Can Child Support Orders be changed/modified?
A: Yes. Child support orders can be changed by court order. Either party may request a modification verbally or in writing, for the child support agency to review the support order/obligation. The request should state reasons for review. A notice will be sent to each party to determine if the request meets the qualifications for modification of the support order or not. Modifications can be made one time in a calendar year unless otherwise noted in a court order.

Q: When does a child support case close?
A: A child support case does not automatically close when a child reaches the age of 18 or emancipates. If the child is still in school the order can continue until the child graduates. If there are arrears owed to the custodial parent or to the state for public assistance arrears, child support can continue to collect until debts are paid.

Q: What are arrears?
A: Arrears/arrearage mean a support obligation amounts are overdue and unpaid. The amount is accrued from the date on which the first missed payment was due. WEN CSP does not charge interest on past due arrears.