There are three main laws affecting child support orders.

1. 1. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 was enacted to streamline the collection (from employees) and disbursement (to custodial parent) of child support moneys. Each employer is required to remit garnished wages to a state disbursement office within 7 days from the time payments were made to the employee. This act also developed a uniform wage withholding order form to be used by employers in all states in processing these withholdings.
3. 2. The Family Support Act of 1988 requires all states to establish a comprehensive system for exchanging information and payment of child support orders. This included:
4. • a) Establishing penalties and fines that may be imposed on employers for terminating or refusing to hire an employee due to the presence of child support claims;
   • b) Establishing laws permitting employers to charge the employee an administrative fee for processing child support orders;and
   • c) Establishing laws to determine the allocation of support payments when more than one exists.
5. The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act was enacted to assist states in processing interstate child support orders.