Federal Child Support Enforcement Act

The Federal Child Support Enforcement Act, enacted in 1984, established national standards to improve the collection of child support payments across states. It authorized the federal government to assist states in locating noncustodial parents, establishing paternity, and collecting payments. The act aimed to ensure that noncustodial parents fulfill their financial responsibilities, reducing dependency on public assistance programs. It also created the Federal Parent Locator Service to aid in locating absent parents. Overall, the law strengthened the system of enforcing child support commitments to promote the well-being of children and support custodial families.