Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Administrative Establishment of Child Support Is Efficient for Uncontested Cases; Compliance Is Better for Orders Established Judicially

Report 03-36, June 2003




Report Summary

The 2001 Legislature authorized the Department of Revenue to conduct a pilot study to help determine whether incorporating an administrative method to establish child support orders would improve Florida's child support order establishment process. The Legislature expanded the project statewide in 2002.

Pilot study results show that the administrative process was more efficient for establishing uncontested child support orders. However, compliance with support orders was higher for orders established through the judicial process. A contributing factor to the lower collection rates for administrative support orders was the lack of involvement of noncustodial parents during the establishment process.

The effectiveness of the Florida's Child Support Enforcement Program can be improved by

  • assigning contested cases to the judicial establishment process and
  • scheduling informal discussions with the noncustodial parent and offering mediation services as part of the administrative support order establishment process.


Related Reports
  1. Department Process Changes Resulted in Fewer Administrative Child Support Orders Than Expected
    Report 08-48 August 2008
  2. Administrative Child Support Order Establishment Process Has Not Yet Produced All Expected Benefits
    Report 06-63 September 2006
  3. Progress Report: Child Support Program Has Adopted or Addressed Most Recommendations
    Report 03-13 February 2003
  4. Child Support Enforcement Program, Florida Department of Revenue
    Report 00-24 December 2000
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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