Glossary of Terms

Acknowledged Father

A man who has acknowledged or recognized the paternity of a child by completing, with the child’s mother, a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.

Adjudicated Father

A man who has been found, by entry of a legal judgment, to be the father of a child born out of wedlock.

Administrative Hearing

The process whereby a noncustodial parent’s or obligor’s objections to an administrative action taken by the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) are heard by an impartial hearing officer upon a timely request. A custodial parent may request an administrative hearing if he or she disagrees with the result of a modification review.

Affidavit

A written statement made under oath before a notary public testifying that the information being provided is true and correct.

Age of Majority

Refers to a child who has attained “legal age” or “adulthood.” In Kentucky, the age of majority is 18 or age 19 for an unmarried child who is a full-time high school student, but not beyond the completion of the school year during which the child reaches the age of 19 years.

The age of majority is generally the age at which support payments are terminated unless the child is still in high school or is disabled.

Agreed Judgment

A judgment reached by agreement of the parties involved.

Alleged Father (Interchangeable With ‘Putative Father’)

The man named as the possible biological father of a child born out of wedlock.

Applicant

A person who has requested IV-D services, either from an area child support office or from a contracting official.

Arrearage

The total unpaid support obligation owed by a noncustodial parent or obligor.

Accrued Arrearage

The amount of arrears that are not specified in a court or administrative order, but which accrue due to nonpayment of support. Accrued arrearages are fully enforceable and automatically become a judgment on the date that the unpaid support is due.

Adjudicated Arrearage

The amount of arrears reduced to a judgment or specified in a court or administrative order.

Assigned Arrearage

Any unpaid child support owed to a custodial parent which he or she assigns as a condition for receiving public assistance services. In addition, an assigned arrearage is an arrearage that accrues during the time K-TAP is or was received.

Unassigned Arrearage

Support owed to a custodial parent which has accrued after IV-D services are stopped.

Assistance Payment

The grant or money payment made to a needy family by either the K-TAP or FC program.

Burden of Proof

The necessity for a person to confirm or prove a fact in dispute on an issue raised between the parties.

Cabinet for Families and Children (CFC)

The state agency responsible for providing services to Kentuckians in need.

Caretaker Other Than Parent

This term refers to an individual who is the custodian of the child(ren) but who is not the biological mother or father of the child(ren).

Child Support

The money paid by a person specifically to provide for the needs of a minor child.

Child Support Action

A judicial and/or an administrative action taken under Kentucky law to establish an amount of money to be paid by a noncustodial parent or obligor to provide for the needs of a minor child.

Child Support Guideline

Sets forth a recommendation for the physical support of children based on a determination of income available to both parents.

Closed Case

A case where all children are emancipated and all arrears are paid in full. Also a case in which there is little or no potential for successfully completing action now or in the future.