The Support Payment Clearinghouse
Rather than having one spouse send checks directly to the other, Arizona routes most maintenance and child support payments through a central clearinghouse. The court orders that payments be made to the support payment clearinghouse, which then forwards the funds to the person entitled to receive them. The parties can agree to a different arrangement, but the clearinghouse is the default.
The court shall order that maintenance or support payments be made to the support payment clearinghouse for remittance to the person entitled to receive the payments unless the parties agree otherwise.
A.R.S. § 25-322(A)This system creates an official record of every payment, which protects both the paying and receiving spouse. The clearinghouse tracks amounts owed, dates payments are due, and the names and addresses of everyone involved.
Keeping Records Current
Both parties have an ongoing obligation to keep the court or clearinghouse informed of their current address. The paying spouse must also report their employer's name and address, and notify the court within ten days of any change in employment or residence. Failing to provide this information can result in a contempt of court finding.
Unless the court has ordered otherwise the parties affected by the order shall inform the clerk of the court or the support payment clearinghouse in writing on entry of the order of their residential address and within ten days of any change of address.
A.R.S. § 25-322(C)If the person obligated to pay has left the state or is beyond the court's jurisdiction, the receiving party can use other legal remedies available under Arizona law to enforce the support order. The court can also direct state agencies to disclose information about an obligor's income, residence, employment, and assets to help enforce the order. These enforcement tools underscore the importance of keeping all financial and legal documents, including estate plans and beneficiary designations, updated after a major life change like divorce.