Private Child Support Agencies

If you aren't having any luck with your local government child support services and can't afford to hire an attorney to take the noncustodial parent back to court, you may be tempted to turn to one of the many private child support collection agencies that have sprung up recently. While it can be a good choice for some, it's best to proceed cautiously and make sure you understand the process completely before committing to a particular agency.

Private collection agencies may get faster results than governmental agencies, as they have the time and resources to use high-pressure techniques, such as:

• Contacting the noncustodial parent directly at his or her home
• Talking to the noncustodial parent's neighbors and co-workers
• Threatening to put liens on the noncustodial parent's property
• Constant streams of communication directed toward the noncustodial parent

Any private collection agency you're considering should have been in business for awhile and have a phone number and physical street address where you can contact them. You'll also want to check for any consumer complaints at your local Better Business Bureau or your state's Attorney General (links).

Private child collection agencies typically take a percentage cut- called a "contingency fee"- of up to 40 percent of all child support collected, regardless of who is responsible for the collection. So even if you collect child support money by communicating directly with the noncustodial parent, or if your local government child support agency collects the money, the private collection agency will still get their fee.

Ask any private collection agency you're considering about:

• Any fees necessary to get your case started
• The amount of their contingency fee
• Any costs above the contingency fee, such as lawyer fees or case processing costs
• Alternative ways of collecting your child support

It's important to review any private collection agency contract very carefully before signing. You'll want to make sure you understand under what circumstances the agency can collect the contingency fee: