Income withholding is a deduction of a payment for child support from a parent’s income. An order for income withholding can be from a court or administratively ordered by a child support agency—such as the child support division of the state’s Attorney General’s office.
The parent's employer often transmits the money directly to the child support agency.
In Maryland, income withholding is a common method used to collect child support payments. When a parent is ordered to pay child support, the court or the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) within the Maryland Department of Human Services can issue an income withholding order. This order requires the parent's employer to deduct the specified amount of child support from the parent's wages and send it directly to the state's child support enforcement agency. The agency then distributes the funds to the custodial parent. Employers are required to comply with the income withholding order and can face penalties for failing to do so. Income withholding orders are typically automatic for most child support cases, ensuring timely and consistent payments to support the welfare of the child.