Network-based child support framework

1. A method, implemented using a computer, for providing a network-based child financial support framework for facilitating communications between employers, custodial parents, and noncustodial parents, the method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database including information on a received financial support payment utilizing a network;

providing general information relating to the financial support payment utilizing the network;

calculating, using the computer, a proper amount of the financial support payment based on a profile of a user and based on an amount paid to date from a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent, wherein the profile includes data relating to at least one of income, number of children, basic support, insurance premium, child care cost, and additional expenses, wherein a first portion of the profile is received from the user across the network and a second portion of the profile is received from the database, and wherein the user may change the data in the second portion of the profile;

displaying a history associated with the financial support payment;

receiving identification information from the user;

determining, from the identification information, if the user is the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent;

providing, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, an customized interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent, said tracking information including payment status, payment amount due, payment amount received, payment date, payment receipt date, payment sent date, payment available withdrawal date, and payment case number, said tracking information further including reasons why a scheduled financial support payment was not dispersed if the scheduled financial support payment has not been received by the custodial parent; and

displaying, to the custodial parent via the interface, the retrieved tracking information for the financial support payment and the plurality of historical financial support payments.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the network includes the Internet.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the history includes a date, an amount received on the date, an amount retained of the amount received, and a disbursement of the amount received to the custodial parent.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of presenting a plurality of frequently asked questions relating to the financial support payment.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , said providing an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve information related to the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent further comprising determining a status of said information.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , said providing an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve information related to the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent further comprising submitting questions regarding said information and receiving answers to said questions.

7. A computer-readable medium including a computer program encoded thereon which, when executed, causes a computer to perform a method for providing a network-based child financial support framework for facilitating communications between employers, custodial parents, and non-custodial parents, the method comprising:

maintaining a database including information on a received financial support payment utilizing a network;

providing general information relating to the financial support payment utilizing the network;

calculating a proper amount of the financial support payment based on a profile of a user and based on an amount paid to date from a noncustodial parent to a custodial parent, wherein the profile includes data relating to at least one of income, number of children, basic support, insurance premium, child care cost, and additional expenses, wherein a first portion of the profile is received from the user across the network and a second portion of the profile is received from the database, and wherein the user may change the data in the second portion of the profile;

displaying a history associated with the financial support payment;

receiving identification information from the user;

determining, from the identification information, if the user is the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent;

providing, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, an customized interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent, said tracking information including payment status, payment amount due, payment amount received, payment date, payment receipt date, payment sent date, payment available withdrawal date, and payment case number, said tracking information further including reasons why a scheduled financial support payment was not dispersed if the scheduled financial support payment has not been received by the custodial parent; and

displaying, to the custodial parent via the interface, the retrieved tracking information for the financial support payment and the plurality of historical financial support payments.

8. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7 , wherein the network includes the Internet.

9. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7 , wherein the history includes a date, an amount received on the date, an amount retained of the amount received, and a disbursement of the amount received to the custodial parent.

10. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7 , and further comprising a code segment that presents a plurality of frequently asked questions relating to the financial support payment.

11. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7 , said providing an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve information related to the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent further comprising determining a status of said information.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 7 , said providing an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve information related to the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent further comprising submitting questions regarding said information and receiving answers to said questions.

13. A system for providing a network-based child financial support framework for facilitating communications between employers, custodial parents, and noncustodial parents, comprising:

logic that maintains a database including information on a received financial support payment utilizing a network;

logic that provides general information relating to the financial support payment utilizing the network;

logic that calculates a proper amount of the financial support payment based on a profile of a user and based on an amount paid to date from a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent, wherein the profile includes data relating to at least one of income, number of children, basic support, insurance premium, child care cost, and additional expenses, wherein a first portion of the profile is received from the user across the network and a second portion of the profile is received from the database, and wherein the user may change the data in the second portion of the profile; and

logic that displays a history associated with the financial support payment;

logic that receives identification information from the user;

logic that determines, from the identification information, if the user is the custodial parent or the non-custodial parent;

logic that provides, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, an customized interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent, said tracking information including payment status, payment amount due, payment amount received, payment date, payment receipt date, payment sent date, payment available withdrawal date, and payment case number, said tracking information further including reasons why a scheduled financial support payment was not dispersed if the scheduled financial support payment has not been received by the custodial parent; and

logic that displays, to the custodial parent via the interface, the retrieved tracking information for the financial support payment and the plurality of historical financial support payments.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the network includes the Internet.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 , wherein the history includes a date, an amount received on the date, an amount retained of the amount received, and a disbursement of the amount received to the custodial parent.

16. The system as recited in claim 13 , and further comprising logic that presents a plurality of frequently asked questions relating to the financial support payment.

17. The system as recited in claim 13 , said logic that provides an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve information related to the financial support payment and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent further comprising determining a status of said information.

18. The system as recited in claim 13 , said logic that provides an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve information related to financial support payments and a plurality of historical financial support payments previously scheduled to the custodial parent further comprising submitting questions regarding said information and receiving answers to said questions.