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By the Numbers: Child Support in America

People pay billions of dollars’ worth of child support every year in the United States. Below are some data and statistics you might find interesting on this issue:

  • There are approximately 4 million single custodial parents living in the United States, about half of whom (48.7 percent) have an informal or legal child support agreement in place.
  • Nearly 90 percent of the existing child support arrangements in the United States were established in court or a government agency, while about 10 percent are informal agreements made by parents.
  • Only about 4 percent of all custodial parents request government assistance for collecting the child support owed to them.
  • There is approximately $33 to $35 billion in child support paid out during any given year.
  • An average person paying child support can expect to pay out about $5,774 per year, or a little less than $500 per month.
  • Only about 5 percent of the money owed for child support in any given year will actually be collected. On average, custodial single parents will receive about $330 per month in child support.
  • Some studies indicate about 3 percent of custodial single mothers receive child support, versus about 31.4 percent of custodial single fathers.
  • Only about 6 percent of parents receive the full amount of child support money due to them. This number fluctuates from year to year. About 25.9 percent will receive none of the money owed to them.

If you need to set up or enforce a child support agreement with your former partner, speak with an experienced Minnesota divorce lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.

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  • "Tori had a thorough understanding of my situation and made excellent recommendations to resolve my concerns. She was persistent on communication and handled everything in a very timely manner. I would definitely hire her again in the future if needed." - M.K.

  • "With Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., it is like having a family physician. They are all knowledgeable, thorough, comforting, and the only call I need to make for all my legal needs for many years to come. No matter what the matter, I totally trust their advice and commitment to me and my family." - J.N.

  • "Mary from APH Law helped me thru a difficult divorce. She and the entire staff was there for me every step of the way helping me on what to do next. They listened to what I wanted and helped me achieve what matter the most to me in the divorce settlement." - Dana C.

  • "I chose APH after my initial consultation with Mary. I felt my best interest would be represented. The entire process went excellent, the attorneys and staff communicated effectively and efficiently with me throughout the process as they needed to. Being new to the legal process and verbiage, they walked me and talked me through the next steps and the jargon, I felt completely comfortable and represented. I hope I never have to use legal services again but if I do I will call Mary at APH Law and know that I will be taken care of." - Jeff M.

  • "Divorce is a time of emotion and stress. Mary Pfeifer , My lawyer was professional and compassionate. She was very informative through the process. Her insight helped me in my decisions. She worked hard to obtain a settlement which was fair to both parties. Though, I hope I won't need her help again. It is reassuring to know a good person that is willing to help." - Rod S.

  • "I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhof, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law. " - M.H.

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