Glossary: M-R

Medical Support - Any medical, dental, optical, prescription drug, health care services, or other health care benefit made available to a child through a legally responsible relative.

Modification Petition - A formal written application to a court requesting a change in an existing child support order.

Money Judgment - A court order requiring a non-custodial parent to pay a sum of child support to the custodial parent.

Non-Custodial Parent (NCP) - The parent who does not live with or have physical custody of the child, but is legally responsible for providing financial and medical support.

Non-TANF - Applies to clients with child support orders who are not receiving temporary or public assistance.

Order of Filiation - Court order stating that a certain man is the father of a certain child.

Passport Denial - The process by which New York State works with the U.S. State Department to prevent NCPs from obtaining or renewing their passports if the non-custodial parent owes $2,500 or more in child support.

Paternity - Legal determination of fatherhood.

Paternity Establishment - The process by which the father of a child born out-of-wedlock is identified and legally acknowledged by the court.

Paternity Petition - A formal written application to a court requesting judicial action to determine legal fatherhood of a specific man for a specific child.

Petitioner - The party who is submitting a paternity or support petition to Family Court.  The petitioner is different for TANF and non-TANF cases.  In non-TANF cases, the petitioner is the custodial parent, guardian or caretaker. In TANF cases, the petitioner is the Social Service Commissioner/designee.

Poverty Orders - If the annual income falls below the yearly poverty level as specified by the federal government, the court can issue a Poverty Order of $25/month or a lower amount that is appropriate. Arrears on a Poverty Order can only accumulate to $500.

Property Execution -The process by which financial assets, including bank account funds of a non-custodial parent, who is delinquent in paying child support, are seized by the Support Collection Unit.

Public Assistance (PA) - PA is the "cash" assistance component of welfare. In New York State, public assistance includes Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Emergency Assistance for Families, Emergency Safety Net Assistance and Emergency Assistance for Adults. PA is often referred to as "temporary assistance".  A separate Medicaid eligibility determination must be made to receive Medicaid coverage.

Putative Father - Man alleged to be the biological father of a child.

***

Retroactive Support - Legislation states that retroactive support is "support arrears/past due support" and recognizes that retroactive support is subject to all administrative enforcement, including any additional amounts ordered to reduce the past due support.