• Idaho child support laws protect minors' rights.Idaho state contour with Capital City against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  Idaho child support laws provide various requirements that parents must meet to ensure the best interest of their children in the event of a divorce. A basic understanding of child support laws is helpful in making certain your child's rights are protected.
  
  

Termination of Child Support

• If you are ordered to pay child support, you must continue providing financial assistance until a legally qualifying event occurs. Some of these include, but are not limited to, your child turning 18 or 19 years of age and graduating from high school, or the emancipation of your child, whichever comes first. Nonetheless, the law states that if your child is severely disabled, both parents may be required to continue paying child support beyond the age of 18 or 19. If you believe your child has a disability that would cause him to remain a dependent after the age of 18, you may petition the court to require child support indefinitely.
  
  

Enforcing a Child Support Order

• If a parent is delinquent in his child support obligation, Idaho law provides that the other parent may legally pursue enforcement of the Child Support Order. If you are a parent and would like to ensure that a Child Support Order is enforced, visit any Department of Health and Welfare office and request an enforcement application. The law stipulates that a parent's Idaho driver's license, or professional, fishing or hunting license may be suspended for failure to meet child support obligations. In addition, failure to pay child support may result in incarceration.
  
  

Income Withholding

• Idaho law states that an immediate income withholding order--a court order requiring that a portion of an individual's income be held for the payment of child support--must be issued. The law provides that some exceptions may apply. Some of these exceptions include, but are not limited to, a written finding demonstrating that a good cause exists, an explanation demonstrating that an immediate withholding order is not in the best interest of the child, and proof of prompt payments in previous court-ordered financial obligations.