Section 413. Parents' duty to support child  


Latest version.
  • 1. (a) Except as provided in
      subdivision two of this section, the parents of a child under the age of
      twenty-one years are chargeable with the support of such child  and,  if
      possessed  of  sufficient  means  or  able  to earn such means, shall be
      required to pay for child support a fair and reasonable sum as the court
      may determine. The court shall make its award for child support pursuant
      to the provisions of this subdivision.  The  court  may  vary  from  the
      amount  of  the  basic  child  support obligation determined pursuant to
      paragraph (c) of this subdivision only in accordance with paragraph  (f)
      of this subdivision.
        (b)  For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions shall
      be used:
        (1) "Basic child support obligation" shall mean  the  sum  derived  by
      adding  the  amounts  determined by the application of subparagraphs two
      and three of paragraph (c)  of  this  subdivision  except  as  increased
      pursuant to subparagraphs four, five, six and seven of such paragraph.
        (2)  "Child  support"  shall  mean  a sum to be paid pursuant to court
      order or decree by either  or  both  parents  or  pursuant  to  a  valid
      agreement between the parties for care, maintenance and education of any
      unemancipated child under the age of twenty-one years.
        (3) "Child support percentage" shall mean:
        (i) seventeen percent of the combined parental income for one child;
        (ii)  twenty-five  percent  of  the  combined  parental income for two
      children;
        (iii) twenty-nine percent of the combined parental  income  for  three
      children;
        (iv)  thirty-one  percent  of  the  combined  parental income for four
      children; and
        (v) no less than thirty-five percent of the combined  parental  income
      for five or more children.
        (4)  "Combined  parental  income"  shall mean the sum of the income of
      both parents.
        (5) "Income" shall mean, but shall not be limited to, the sum  of  the
      amounts determined by the application of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
      (v)  and  (vi)  of this subparagraph reduced by the amount determined by
      the application of clause (vii) of this subparagraph:
        (i) gross (total) income as should have been or should be reported  in
      the  most  recent  federal  income  tax  return.  If an individual files
      his/her federal income tax return as a married  person  filing  jointly,
      such  person shall be required to prepare a form, sworn to under penalty
      of law, disclosing his/her gross income individually;
        (ii) to the extent not already included in gross income in clause  (i)
      of  this  subparagraph,  investment  income  reduced by sums expended in
      connection with such investment;
        (iii) to the extent not already included in gross  income  in  clauses
      (i)  and (ii) of this subparagraph, the amount of income or compensation
      voluntarily deferred and income received, if  any,  from  the  following
      sources:
        (A) workers' compensation,
        (B) disability benefits,
        (C) unemployment insurance benefits,
        (D) social security benefits,
        (E) veterans benefits,
        (F) pensions and retirement benefits,
        (G) fellowships and stipends, and
        (H) annuity payments;
    
        (iv) at the discretion of the court, the court may attribute or impute
      income  from,  such  other  resources as may be available to the parent,
      including, but not limited to:
        (A) non-income producing assets,
        (B) meals, lodging, memberships, automobiles or other perquisites that
      are  provided  as part of compensation for employment to the extent that
      such perquisites constitute expenditures  for  personal  use,  or  which
      expenditures directly or indirecly confer personal economic benefits,
        (C)  fringe  benefits provided as part of compensation for employment,
      and
        (D) money, goods, or services provided by relatives and friends;
        (v) an amount  imputed  as  income  based  upon  the  parent's  former
      resources  or  income, if the court determines that a parent has reduced
      resources or income in order to reduce or avoid the parent's  obligation
      for child support;
        (vi) to the extent not already included in gross income in clauses (i)
      and  (ii) of this subparagraph, the following self-employment deductions
      attributable to self-employment carried on by the taxpayer:
        (A) any depreciation deduction greater than depreciation calculated on
      a straight-line basis for the purpose of determining business income  or
      investment credits, and
        (B)  entertainment and travel allowances deducted from business income
      to the extent said allowances reduce personal expenditures;
        (vii) the following shall be deducted from income  prior  to  applying
      the provisions of paragraph (c) of this subdivision:
        (A)  unreimbursed employee business expenses except to the extent said
      expenses reduce personal expenditures,
        (B) alimony or maintenance actually paid to a spouse not  a  party  to
      the  instant  action pursuant to court order or validly executed written
      agreement,
        (C) alimony or maintenance actually paid or to be  paid  to  a  spouse
      that  is  a  party  to  the instant action pursuant to an existing court
      order or contained in the order to be entered by the court, or  pursuant
      to a validly executed written agreement, provided the order or agreement
      provides for a specific adjustment, in accordance with this subdivision,
      in  the  amount of child support payable upon the termination of alimony
      or maintenance to such spouse,
        (D) child support actually paid pursuant to  court  order  or  written
      agreement on behalf of any child for whom the parent has a legal duty of
      support and who is not subject to the instant action,
        (E) public assistance,
        (F) supplemental security income,
        (G)  New  York city or Yonkers income or earnings taxes actually paid,
      and
        (H) federal insurance contributions act (FICA) taxes actually paid.
        (6) "Self-support reserve" shall mean one hundred thirty-five  percent
      of  the poverty income guidelines amount for a single person as reported
      by the federal department of health and human services. For the calendar
      year nineteen hundred eighty-nine, the  self-support  reserve  shall  be
      eight  thousand  sixty-five  dollars.  On  March first of each year, the
      self-support reserve shall be revised to reflect the annual updating  of
      the  poverty  income guidelines as reported by the federal department of
      health and human services for a single person household.
        (c) The  amount  of  the  basic  child  support  obligation  shall  be
      determined in accordance with the provision of this paragraph:
        (1) The court shall determine the combined parental income.
        * (2)  The  court  shall  multiply  the combined parental income up to
      eighty thousand dollars by the appropriate child support percentage  and
    
      such  amount  shall  be prorated in the same proportion as each parent's
      income is to the combined parental income.
        * NB Effective until January 31, 2010
        * (2)  The court shall multiply the combined parental income up to the
      amount set forth in paragraph (b) of  subdivision  two  of  section  one
      hundred  eleven-i  of  the  social services law by the appropriate child
      support percentage and  such  amount  shall  be  prorated  in  the  same
      proportion as each parent's income is to the combined parental income.
        * NB Effective January 31, 2010
        (3)  Where  the combined parental income exceeds the dollar amount set
      forth in subparagraph two of this paragraph, the court  shall  determine
      the  amount  of  child  support  for the amount of the combined parental
      income in excess of such dollar  amount  through  consideration  of  the
      factors  set forth in paragraph (f) of this subdivision and/or the child
      support percentage.
        (4) Where the custodial parent is working, or receiving elementary  or
      secondary  education,  or  higher education or vocational training which
      the court determines will lead to  employment,  and  incurs  child  care
      expenses as a result thereof, the court shall determine reasonable child
      care  expenses  and  such  child care expenses, where incurred, shall be
      prorated in the same proportion  as  each  parent's  income  is  to  the
      combined parental income. Each parent's pro rata share of the child care
      expenses   shall   be   separately  stated  and  added  to  the  sum  of
      subparagraphs two and three of this paragraph.
        * (5) The court shall prorate each parent's share of future reasonable
      health care expenses of the child not covered by insurance in  the  same
      proportion  as  each parent's income is to the combined parental income.
      The non-custodial parent's pro rata share of such health  care  expenses
      shall  be  paid  in  a  manner determined by the court, including direct
      payment to the health care provider.
        * NB Effective until October 9, 2009
        * (5) The court shall determine the  parties'  obligation  to  provide
      health  insurance  benefits  pursuant to section four hundred sixteen of
      this part and to  pay  cash  medical  support  as  provided  under  this
      subparagraph.
        (i)  "Cash  medical support" means an amount ordered to be paid toward
      the cost of health insurance provided by a public entity or by a  parent
      through  an  employer  or  organization,  including  such  employers  or
      organizations which are self insured, or through other available  health
      insurance  or  health  care coverage plans, and/or for other health care
      expenses not covered by insurance.
        (ii) Where health insurance benefits pursuant  to  paragraph  one  and
      subparagraphs  (i)  and  (ii)  of  paragraph  two  of subdivision (e) of
      section four hundred sixteen of this part are determined by the court to
      be available, the cost of providing health insurance benefits  shall  be
      prorated  between  the  parties  in the same proportion as each parent's
      income is to the combined parental income. If the  custodial  parent  is
      ordered  to  provide  such benefits, the non-custodial parent's pro rata
      share of such costs shall be added to the basic support  obligation.  If
      the  non-custodial  parent  is  ordered  to  provide  such benefits, the
      custodial parent's pro rata share of such costs shall be  deducted  from
      the basic support obligation.
        (iii)  Where  health  insurance benefits pursuant to paragraph one and
      subparagraphs (i) and (ii)  of  paragraph  two  of  subdivision  (e)  of
      section four hundred sixteen of this part are determined by the court to
      be  unavailable,  if  the  child or children are determined eligible for
      coverage under the medical assistance program  established  pursuant  to
    
      title eleven of article five of the social services law, the court shall
      order the non-custodial parent to pay cash medical support as follows:
        (A)  In  the  case  of a child or children authorized for managed care
      coverage under the medical assistance program, the lesser of the  amount
      that  would be required as a family contribution under the state's child
      health insurance plan pursuant to title one-A of article twenty-five  of
      the  public  health  law  for  the  child  or children if they were in a
      two-parent household with income equal to the  combined  income  of  the
      non-custodial  and  custodial parents or the premium paid by the medical
      assistance program on behalf of the child or  children  to  the  managed
      care  plan.  The court shall separately state the non-custodial parent's
      monthly obligation. The  non-custodial  parent's  cash  medical  support
      obligation under this clause shall not exceed five percent of his or her
      gross  income,  or  the  difference  between  the non-custodial parent's
      income and the self-support reserve, whichever is less.
        (B) In the case of a child or children authorized for  fee-for-service
      coverage  under  the  medical  assistance  program other than a child or
      children described in item (A) of this clause, the court shall determine
      the  non-custodial  parent's  maximum  annual   cash   medical   support
      obligation,  which  shall  be  equal to the lesser of the monthly amount
      that would be required as a family contribution under the state's  child
      health  insurance plan pursuant to title one-A of article twenty-five of
      the public health law for the child  or  children  if  they  were  in  a
      two-parent  household  with  income  equal to the combined income of the
      non-custodial and custodial parents times twelve months or the number of
      months that the child or children  are  authorized  for  fee-for-service
      coverage  during any year. The court shall separately state in the order
      the  non-custodial  parent's  maximum  annual   cash   medical   support
      obligation  and,  upon proof to the court that the non-custodial parent,
      after notice of the amount due, has failed to pay the public entity  for
      incurred  health  care expenses, the court shall order the non-custodial
      parent to pay such incurred health  care  expenses  up  to  the  maximum
      annual  cash  medical  support obligation. Such amounts shall be support
      arrears/past due support  and  shall  be  subject  to  any  remedies  as
      provided by law for the enforcement of support arrears/past due support.
      The  total annual amount that the non-custodial parent is ordered to pay
      under this clause shall not exceed five percent  of  his  or  her  gross
      income  or  the difference between the non-custodial parent's income and
      the self-support reserve, whichever is less.
        (C) The court shall order cash medical  support  to  be  paid  by  the
      non-custodial  parent  for health care expenses of the child or children
      paid by the medical assistance program prior  to  the  issuance  of  the
      court's  order.  The  amount  of  such  support  shall  be calculated as
      provided under item (A) or (B) of this clause, provided that the  amount
      that  the  non-custodial  parent is ordered to pay under this item shall
      not exceed five percent of his or her gross  income  or  the  difference
      between  the non-custodial parent's income and the self-support reserve,
      whichever is less, for the year when  the  expense  was  incurred.  Such
      amounts  shall  be support arrears/past due support and shall be subject
      to any remedies as provided  by  law  for  the  enforcement  of  support
      arrears/past due support.
        (iv)  Where  health  insurance  benefits pursuant to paragraph one and
      subparagraphs (i) and (ii)  of  paragraph  two  of  subdivision  (e)  of
      section four hundred sixteen of this part are determined by the court to
      be  unavailable,  and  the child or children are determined eligible for
      coverage under the state's child health insurance plan pursuant to title
      one-A of article twenty-five of the public health law, the  court  shall
      prorate  each  parent's  share  of  the  cost of the family contribution
    
      required under such child health insurance plan in the  same  proportion
      as  each  parent's  income is to the combined parental income, and state
      the amount of the non-custodial parent's share in the order.  The  total
      amount  of cash medical support that the non-custodial parent is ordered
      to pay under this clause shall not exceed five percent  of  his  or  her
      gross  income,  or  the  difference  between  the non-custodial parent's
      income and the self-support reserve, whichever is less.
        (v) In addition to the amounts ordered under clause  (ii),  (iii),  or
      (iv)  of this subparagraph, the court shall pro rate each parent's share
      of reasonable health care expenses not reimbursed or paid by  insurance,
      the  medical  assistance program established pursuant to title eleven of
      article five of the social services law, or  the  state's  child  health
      insurance  plan  pursuant  to  title one-A of article twenty-five of the
      public health law, in the same proportion as each parent's income is  to
      the combined parental income, and state the non-custodial parent's share
      as  a percentage in the order. The non-custodial parent's pro rata share
      of such health care expenses determined by the court to be due and owing
      shall be support arrears/past due support and shall be  subject  to  any
      remedies provided by law for the enforcement of support arrears/past due
      support.  In  addition,  the  court  may  direct  that the non-custodial
      parent's pro rata share of such health care expenses be paid in one  sum
      or  in  periodic  sums,  including  direct  payment  to  the health care
      provider.
        (vi) Upon proof by either party that cash medical support pursuant  to
      clause  (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of this subparagraph would be unjust or
      inappropriate pursuant to paragraph  (f)  of  subdivision  one  of  this
      section, the court shall:
        (A)  order  the parties to pay cash medical support as the court finds
      just and appropriate, considering the best interests of the child; and
        (B) set forth in the order  the  factors  it  considered,  the  amount
      calculated  under this subparagraph, the reason or reasons the court did
      not order such amount, and the basis for the amount awarded.
        * NB Effective October 9, 2009
        (6) Where the court determines that the custodial  parent  is  seeking
      work  and  incurs child care expenses as a result thereof, the court may
      determine reasonable child care expenses  and  may  apportion  the  same
      between  the  custodial  and  non-custodial  parent.  The  non-custodial
      parent's share of such expenses shall be separately stated and paid in a
      manner determined by the court.
        (7) Where the court determines, having regard for the circumstances of
      the case and of the respective parties and in the best interests of  the
      child,  and as justice requires, that the present or future provision of
      post-secondary, private, special, or enriched education for the child is
      appropriate, the court may award educational expenses. The non-custodial
      parent  shall  pay  educational  expenses,  as  awarded,  in  a   manner
      determined  by  the  court,  including direct payment to the educational
      provider.
        (d)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  paragraph   (c)   of   this
      subdivision,  where  the  annual  amount  of  the  basic  child  support
      obligation would reduce the  non-custodial  parent's  income  below  the
      poverty  income guidelines amount for a single person as reported by the
      federal department of health and human services, the basic child support
      obligation shall be twenty-five dollars  per  month  or  the  difference
      between  the non-custodial parent's income and the self-support reserve,
      whichever is greater. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (c) of
      this subdivision, where the annual amount of  the  basic  child  support
      obligation  would  reduce  the  non-custodial  parent's income below the
      self-support reserve but not below the poverty income guidelines  amount
    
      for  a single person as reported by the federal department of health and
      human services, the  basic  child  support  obligation  shall  be  fifty
      dollars  per  month or the difference between the non-custodial parent's
      income and the self-support reserve, whichever is greater.
        (e)  Where  a  parent  is  or may be entitled to receive non-recurring
      payments from extraordinary sources not otherwise considered  as  income
      pursuant to this section, including but not limited to:
        (1) Life insurance policies;
        (2) Discharges of indebtedness;
        (3) Recovery of bad debts and delinquency amounts;
        (4) Gifts and inheritances; and
        (5) Lottery winnings,
      the  court,  in  accordance  with  paragraphs  (c),  (d) and (f) of this
      subdivision may allocate a proportion of the same to child support,  and
      such amount shall be paid in a manner determined by the court.
        (f)  The court shall calculate the basic child support obligation, and
      the non-custodial parent's pro rata share of  the  basic  child  support
      obligation.  Unless  the  court  finds  that the non-custodial parents's
      pro-rata share of the  basic  child  support  obligation  is  unjust  or
      inappropriate,  which  finding  shall be based upon consideration of the
      following factors:
        (1) The financial resources of the custodial and non-custodial parent,
      and those of the child;
        (2) The physical and emotional health of the child and his/her special
      needs and aptitudes;
        (3) The standard of living  the  child  would  have  enjoyed  had  the
      marriage or household not been dissolved;
        (4) The tax consequences to the parties;
        (5)  The  non-monetary contributions that the parents will make toward
      the care and well-being of the child;
        (6) The educational needs of either parent;
        (7)  A  determination  that  the  gross  income  of  one   parent   is
      substantially less than the other parent's gross income;
        (8) The needs of the children of the non-custodial parent for whom the
      non-custodial  parent  is  providing  support who are not subject to the
      instant action and whose support  has  not  been  deducted  from  income
      pursuant  to  subclause  (D)  of  clause  (vii)  of subparagraph five of
      paragraph (b) of this subdivision, and the financial  resources  of  any
      person  obligated to support such children, provided, however, that this
      factor may apply  only  if  the  resources  available  to  support  such
      children  are  less than the resources available to support the children
      who are subject to the instant action;
        (9)  Provided  that  the  child  is  not  on  public  assistance   (i)
      extraordinary   expenses   incurred   by  the  non-custodial  parent  in
      exercising visitation, or (ii) expenses incurred  by  the  non-custodial
      parent  in  extended  visitation  provided  that  the custodial parent's
      expenses are substantially reduced as a result thereof; and
        (10) Any other factors the court determines are relevant in each case,
      the court shall order the non-custodial parent to pay  his  or  her  pro
      rata  share  of  the  basic  child support obligation, and may order the
      non-custodial parent to pay an amount pursuant to paragraph (e) of  this
      subdivision.
        (g)  Where  the  court  finds that the non-custodial parent's pro rata
      share of the basic child support obligation is unjust or  inappropriate,
      the  court  shall  order  the non-custodial parent to pay such amount of
      child support as the court finds just and  appropriate,  and  the  court
      shall  set  forth,  in  a  written order, the factors it considered; the
      amount of each party's  pro  rata  share  of  the  basic  child  support
    
      obligation; and the reasons that the court did not order the basic child
      support  obligation.    Such  written  order may not be waived by either
      party or  counsel;  provided  however,  and  notwithstanding  any  other
      provision  of  law,  including  but  not limited to section four hundred
      fifteen of this act, the court shall not  find  that  the  non-custodial
      parent's pro rata share of such obligation is unjust or inappropriate on
      the  basis  that  such  share exceeds the portion of a public assistance
      grant which is attributable to a child or children. In no instance shall
      the court order child support below twenty-five dollars per month. Where
      the non-custodial parent's income is less than or equal to  the  poverty
      income  guidelines amount for a single person as reported by the federal
      department of health and human services, unpaid child support arrears in
      excess of five hundred dollars shall not accrue.
        (h) A validly executed agreement or  stipulation  voluntarily  entered
      into  between  the  parties after the effective date of this subdivision
      presented to the court for incorporation in an order or  judgment  shall
      include  a  provision  stating that the parties have been advised of the
      provisions  of  this  subdivision  and  that  the  basic  child  support
      obligation  provided  for  therein  would  presumptively  result  in the
      correct amount of child support to be awarded. In the  event  that  such
      agreement   or   stipulation  deviates  from  the  basic  child  support
      obligation, the agreement or stipulation must specify  the  amount  that
      such  basic  child  support obligation would have been and the reason or
      reasons that such agreement or stipulation does not provide for  payment
      of  that  amount.  Such  provision  may not be waived by either party or
      counsel. Nothing contained in this subdivision  shall  be  construed  to
      alter  the  rights  of  the  parties  to  voluntarily enter into validly
      executed agreements or stipulations which deviate from the  basic  child
      support  obligation provided such agreements or stipulations comply with
      the provisions of this  paragraph.  The  court  shall,  however,  retain
      discretion  with  respect to child support pursuant to this section. Any
      court order or judgment incorporating a validly  executed  agreement  or
      stipulation which deviates from the basic child support obligation shall
      set forth the court's reasons for such deviation.
        (i)  Where  either  or both parties are unrepresented, the court shall
      not enter an order or judgment other than a temporary order pursuant  to
      section  two  hundred  thirty-seven  of  this  article,  that includes a
      provision for child support unless the unrepresented  party  or  parties
      have received a copy of the child support standards chart promulgated by
      the  commissioner  of  social  services  pursuant  to subdivision two of
      section one hundred eleven-i of the social services  law.  Where  either
      party  is  in  receipt of child support enforcement services through the
      local social services district, the local social services district child
      support enforcement unit shall advise such party of the  amount  derived
      from  application  of  the child support percentage and that such amount
      serves as a starting point for the determination of  the  child  support
      award,  and  shall  provide  such party with a copy of the child support
      standards chart. In no instance shall the court  approve  any  voluntary
      support  agreement  or  compromise  that  includes  an  amount for child
      support less than twenty-five dollars per month.
        (j) In addition to  financial  disclosure  required  in  section  four
      hundred  twenty-four-a  of  this article, the court may require that the
      income and/or expenses of either party be  verified  with  documentation
      including,  but  not  limited  to,  past and present income tax returns,
      employer statements, pay  stubs,  corporate,  business,  or  partnership
      books  and records, corporate and business tax returns, and receipts for
      expenses or such other means of verification  as  the  court  determines
      appropriate.  Nothing  herein  shall  affect any party's right to pursue
    
      discovery pursuant to this chapter, the civil practice law and rules, or
      the family court act.
        (k) When a party has defaulted and/or the court is otherwise presented
      with  insufficient  evidence  to determine gross income, the court shall
      order child support based upon the needs or standard of  living  of  the
      child,  whichever  is  greater. Such order may be retroactively modified
      upward, without a showing of change in circumstances.
        (l)  In any action or proceeding for modification of an order of child
      support existing prior to the effective date of this paragraph,  brought
      pursuant  to  this  article,  the  child  support standards set forth in
      paragraphs (a) through (k) of  this  subdivision  shall  not  constitute
      grounds  for modification of such support order; provided, however, that
      (1) where the circumstances warrant modification of such order,  or  (2)
      where  any  party  objects  to  an  adjusted child support order made or
      proposed at the direction of the support  collection  unit  pursuant  to
      section  one  hundred  eleven-h  or  one  hundred eleven-n of the social
      services law, and the court is reviewing  the  current  order  of  child
      support,   such   standards  shall  be  applied  by  the  court  in  its
      determination with regard to the request for modification or disposition
      of an objection to an adjusted child support order made or proposed by a
      support collection unit. In applying such standards, when the  order  to
      be  modified incorporates by reference or merges with a validly executed
      separation  agreement  or  stipulation  of  settlement,  the  court  may
      consider,  in addition to the factors set forth in paragraph (f) of this
      subdivision, the provisions of such agreement or stipulation  concerning
      property   distribution,   distributive   award  and/or  maintenance  in
      determining whether the amount calculated by using the  standards  would
      be unjust or inappropriate.
        2. Nothing in this article shall impose any liability upon a person to
      support  the  adopted  child  of  his  or  her spouse, if such child was
      adopted after the adopting spouse is living separate and apart from  the
      non-adopting  spouse  pursuant  to  a  legally  recognizable  separation
      agreement or decree under the domestic  relations  law.  Such  liability
      shall  not  be  imposed  for  so long as the spouses remain separate and
      apart after the adoption.
        3. a. One-time adjustment of child  support  orders  issued  prior  to
      September  fifteenth, nineteen hundred eighty-nine. Any party to a child
      support order issued prior  to  September  fifteenth,  nineteen  hundred
      eighty-nine  on the behalf of a child in receipt of public assistance or
      child support services pursuant to section one hundred eleven-g  of  the
      social  services  law  may  request  that  the  support  collection unit
      undertake one review of the order for adjustment  purposes  pursuant  to
      section  one  hundred  eleven-h of the social services law. A hearing on
      the adjustment of such order shall be  granted  upon  the  objection  of
      either  party pursuant to the provisions of this section. An order shall
      be adjusted if as of the date of the support collection unit's review of
      the correct amount of  child  support  as  calculated  pursuant  to  the
      provisions  of  this  section would deviate by at least ten percent from
      the child support ordered in the last permanent  support  order  of  the
      court.  Additionally, a new support order shall be issued upon a showing
      that the current order of support does not provide for the  health  care
      needs  of  the  child through insurance or otherwise. Eligibility of the
      child for medical  assistance  shall  not  relieve  any  obligation  the
      parties  otherwise  have  to  provide  for  the health care needs of the
      child. The support collection unit's review of  a  child  support  order
      shall  be made on notice to all parties to the current support order and
      shall be subject to the provisions of section four hundred twenty-four-a
      of this article. Nothing herein shall be deemed in  any  way  to  limit,
    
      restrict,  expand  or  impair  the  rights  of  any  party to file for a
      modification of a child support order as is otherwise provided by law.
        b.  Upon  receipt  of  an  adjustment  finding and where appropriate a
      proposed order in conformity with such finding filed by either party  or
      by the support collection unit, a party shall have thirty-five days from
      the  date  of  mailing  of  the adjustment finding and proposed adjusted
      order, if any, to  submit  to  the  court  identified  thereon  specific
      written objections to such finding and proposed order.
        (1) If specific written objections are submitted by either party or by
      the  support  collection unit, a hearing shall be scheduled by the court
      on notice to the parties and the support collection unit, who shall have
      the right to be heard by the court and to offer evidence in  support  of
      or in opposition to adjustment of the support order.
        (2)  The  party  filing the specific written objections shall bear the
      burden of going forward and the burden of proof; provided, however, that
      if the support collection unit has failed to provide  the  documentation
      and  information required by subdivision fourteen of section one hundred
      eleven-h of the social services law, the court shall first  require  the
      support collection unit to furnish such documents and information to the
      parties and the court.
        (3)  If  the  court  finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the
      specific  written  objections  have  been  proven,   the   court   shall
      recalculate  or readjust the proposed adjusted order accordingly or, for
      good cause, shall remand the order to the support  collection  unit  for
      submission  of  a  new  proposed adjusted order. Any readjusted order so
      issued by the court  or  resubmitted  by  the  support  collection  unit
      following  remand  by  the  court  shall be effective as of the date the
      proposed adjusted  order  would  have  been  effective  had  no  written
      objections been filed.
        (4)  If  the court finds that the specific written objections have not
      been proven  by  a  preponderance  of  the  evidence,  the  court  shall
      immediately issue the adjusted order, which shall be effective as of the
      date  the order would have been effective had no written objections been
      filed.
        (5) If the determination of the specific written objections  has  been
      made  by  a  family  court  support  magistrate,  the  parties  shall be
      permitted to obtain judicial review  of  such  determination  by  filing
      timely  written  objections  pursuant to subdivision (e) of section four
      hundred thirty-nine of this act.
        (6) If the court  receives  no  specific  written  objections  to  the
      support  order  within  thirty-five  days of the mailing of the proposed
      order, the clerk of the court shall immediately issue the order  without
      any  further review, modification, or other prior action by the court or
      any judge or support magistrate thereof, and the clerk shall immediately
      transmit copies of the order of  support  to  the  parties  and  to  the
      support collection unit.
        c.  A  motion  to vacate an order of support adjusted pursuant to this
      section may be made no later than  forty-five  days  after  an  adjusted
      support  order  is  executed  by  the  court  where  no specific written
      objections to the proposed order have been timely received by the court.
      Such motion shall be granted only upon  a  determination  by  the  court
      issuing  such  order  that personal jurisdiction was not timely obtained
      over the moving party.
        4. On-going cost of living adjustment of child support  orders  issued
      prior to September fifteenth, nineteen hundred eighty-nine. Any party to
      a  child  support  order  issued  prior to September fifteenth, nineteen
      hundred eighty-nine on the behalf  of  a  child  in  receipt  of  public
      assistance  or  child  support  services pursuant to section one hundred
    
      eleven-g of the  social  services  law  may  request  that  the  support
      collection  unit  review  the  order  for a cost of living adjustment in
      accordance with the provisions of section  four  hundred  thirteen-a  of
      this article.