For Immediate Release
Oct. 10, 2003

Richmond - Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Commissioner Maurice A. Jones today announced that the Commonwealth has netted the largest child support collection ever paid to retrieve a passport in Virginia’s history.

A total of $186,968 was collected from a non-custodial parent in the Fairfax area through the program, which permits the state to deny passport renewal until overdue child support is paid.

"It is important that both parents support their children emotionally and financially," Jones said. "We take seriously our role in collecting child support that is due children in Virginia. Collecting this large amount shows that programs that we have in place work."

The child support case opened in 2001. The non-custodial parent never made a child support payment to his two children. The VDSS Division of Child Support Enforcement’s (DCSE) Fairfax Office had pursued the case diligently, even though there was no information available concerning the father’s assets or employment information.

The father, who was living in Jordan, called the Fairfax office because the renewal of his passport had been denied. He was told that the only resolution was to pay his child support debt in full, which he did.

"Passport denial is an effective enforcement tool. Any case receiving full child support services through a state child support agency can revoke, refuse, restrict or limit a passport previously issued to an individual owing a child support debt greater than $5,000." DCSE Director Nick Young added

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the Commonwealth collected and distributed a record $506.2 million in child support. One-quarter of Virginia’s children benefit from child support collection efforts. For more information about child support enforcement, visit the VDSS Web site at www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse.html

Marcella Williamson
Public Affairs
(804) 692-1031
mkw900@dss.state.va.us

Charles Ingram
Public Affairs
(804) 692-1619
cij900@dss.state.va.us
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _