System, method and article of manufacture for a network-based child support framework

1. A method, implemented using a computer, for providing a network-based child financial support framework, the method comprising the steps of:

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

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

receiving identification information from the user;

determining, from the identification information, whether the user is the custodial parent; and

providing, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, access to an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment, said tracking information including at least one of payment status, payment amount due, payment amount received, payment date, and payment available withdrawal date.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the method is implemented using a network that includes the Internet.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

allowing, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, the user to change at least a portion of the data in the user profile.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the interface is further configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment and history data relating to a plurality of historical financial support payments.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the history data 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.

6. A system for providing a network-based child financial support framework, the system comprising:

a central processing unit;

a memory unit in communication with the central processing unit;

one or more modules that:

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

calculates a proper amount of the financial support payment based on a user profile and an amount paid to date from a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent, wherein the user profile includes data relating to at least one of income, number of children, basic support, insurance premium, child care cost, and additional expenses;

receives identification information from the user;

determines, from the identification information, whether the user is the custodial parent; and

provides, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, access to an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment, said tracking information including at least one of payment status, payment amount due, payment amount received, payment date, and payment available withdrawal date.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 , further comprising a network that includes the Internet.

8. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein:

the one or more modules allows, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, the user to change at least a portion of the data in the user profile.

9. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the interface is further configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment and history data relating to a plurality of historical financial support payments.

10. The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the history data 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.

11. 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, the method comprising the steps of:

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

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

receiving identification information from the user;

determining, from the identification information, whether the user is the custodial parent; and

providing, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, access to an interface configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment, said tracking information including at least one of payment status, payment amount due, payment amount received, payment date, and payment available withdrawal date.

12. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 , wherein the network includes the Internet.

13. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 , wherein the method further comprising:

allowing, only after determining the user is the custodial parent, the user to change at least a portion of the data in the user profile.

14. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 , wherein the interface is further configured to allow the custodial parent to retrieve tracking information for the financial support payment and history data relating to a plurality of historical financial support payments.

15. The computer-readable medium as recited in claim 11 , wherein the history data 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.