Book Description

Recognizing the importance of child support (CS), the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 requires that if a parent with CS obligations files for bankruptcy, a bankruptcy trustee must notify the custodial parent and state CS enforcement agency so that they may participate in the case. The act also required a study of the feasibility of matching bankruptcy records with CS records to assure that filers with CS obligations are identified. This report: (1) identified the percent of bankruptcy filers with obligations nationwide; (2) examined the potential for routine data matching to facilitate the identification of filers with CS obligations; and (3) studied the feasibility and cost of doing so. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.