County to offer amnesty for parents with child support warrants

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BATAVIA, Ohio (Feb.1, 2017) — Clermont County’s Department of Job and Family Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement, will offer amnesty during March to noncustodial parents who have outstanding civil warrants relating to a child support hearing. The amnesty does not include criminal cases that are filed in Common Pleas Court.

During the month of March, parents who have failed to appear for a court hearing, or to report to jail to serve a sentence relating to child support only, should contact the Child Support Enforcement Office.

The child support agency will suspend or withdraw civil bench warrants for those parents who arrange to make payments toward their child support, who are employed or registered with Ohio Means Jobs, or who meet certain other criteria.

“The goal of the amnesty program is to reduce the number of outstanding civil warrants and to try to get these parents back on track and heading in the right direction,” said Brenda Gilreath, assistant director of Child Support Enforcement.  “This amnesty program will enable the parents who have warrants an opportunity to reach a legal resolution by working on a compliance plan – and the resolution is at no cost for the service.”

The child support program serves more children than any other public program in Ohio, second only to the Department of Education. In 2016, the Clermont County agency collected more than $36 million in child support. The agency currently has 692 civil warrants associated with child support cases.

This amnesty program does not include a negotiation for the reduction of child support owed.

To find out more, or to start arrangements, noncustodial parents can call their caseworkers at 513.732.7248 at any time (leave a voicemail after hours), or visit the Child Support Enforcement office from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the month of March. Appointments are not necessary during these hours but are encouraged. Noncustodial parents can find direct phone numbers and email addresses for caseworkers on the agency website which is www.clermontsupportskids.org.

Email inquiries can be submitted to clermontsupportskids@jfs.ohio.gov.

Media: For more information, contact Theresa Bechtel Ellison, Lead Attorney, or Brenda Gilreath, Deputy Director, at 513.732.7429.