Figure 3.14 Percentage of Cases Containing Information Required by Section 13 of the Federal Child Support Guidelines

A substantial proportion of cases had information on both the name and the date of birth of each child to whom the order relates (89.1 percent and 86.9 percent, respectively). Approximately three quarters of the cases had information on the income of any spouse whose income was used to determine the child support amount (77 percent) as well as the dates on which payments are due (74.2 percent). A total of 54.2 percent of cases had the amount of child support as determined from the appropriate table. With respect to the information required when special or extraordinary expenses are awarded, only cases with child support awards and special or extraordinary expenses were included (n=8,313). Of these cases, 73.1 percent were coded as having the amount or proportion of any extraordinary expense awarded specified. A total of 58.7 percent of the cases reported having the particulars of all special or extraordinary expenses awarded. Nearly one half (48.2 percent) reported the identity of the child to whom any special or extraordinary expense related. It should be noted, however, that 36.5 percent of cases with child support awards and special expenses awarded had only one child, and therefore it could be argued that it was not necessary to specify the child by name. Section 13 also requires that the amount considered appropriate for any child over the age of majority be listed in a child support order. Determining compliance with this component of section 13 is problematic. Although 1,235 cases in the database included a child support order which indicated that there were children treated as over the age of majority, it is probable that some unknown proportion of these children were not considered as eligible for child support when the child support amount was determined, and thus would not have an amount reported under section 13. However, this is the best base figure available for determining adherence to this component of section 13. Using this figure, a total of 19.2 percent of the cases were coded as having the amount for a child over the age of majority.