HB 541 - AS INTRODUCED
2021 SESSION
21-0719
05/04
HOUSE BILL 541
AN ACT relative to the priority of child support payments over other court costs and
expenses.
SPONSORS: Rep. Gay, Rock. 8; Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Read,
Rock. 17; Rep. W. MacDonald, Rock. 5; Rep. Elliott, Rock. 8; Rep. DiLorenzo,
Rock. 17; Rep. Prudhomme-O'Brien, Rock. 6; Rep. Pitre, Straf. 2; Sen. Watters,
Dist 4; Sen. Hennessey, Dist 1
COMMITTEE: Children and Family Law
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the parties to disclose the sources of income used to pay for court costs and
expenses in a parenting cases. The bill also provides that child support shall have priority over the
payment of all other costs and expenses.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
 HB 541 - AS INTRODUCED
21-0719
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to the priority of child support payments over other court costs and
expenses.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 1 New Paragraph; Parental Rights and Responsibilities; Child Support; Disclosure of Fees.
2 Amend RSA 461-A:14 by inserting after paragraph XVIII the following new paragraph:
3 XIX.(a) In any proceeding to enforce the payment of child support, both parents shall submit
4 a financial affidavit regarding income from all sources, including those used to pay for all costs
5 assessed by the court or associated with the proceeding, such as, but not limited to, fees for
6 guardians ad litem, visitation centers, and legal representation.
7 (b) Payment of child support shall have priority over the payment of all other costs
8 assessed by the court or associated with the proceedings.
9 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 461-A:14
latest version: 461-A:14