Q: Handling child support from Missouri and Puerto Rico for emancipated child.

A: If you have a current child support order in Puerto Rico, you need a Puerto Rico lawyer.

They might just be taking arrearages.

A: It’s frustrating to deal with child support from two places, especially after your child has been emancipated in one of them. Missouri’s decision to end your support obligation should matter, but if Puerto Rico hasn’t recognized that, they may still legally try to collect. Sometimes, when two jurisdictions issue support orders around the same time, it creates confusion about which one has authority.

Your next step should be to file a motion in Puerto Rico to recognize the Missouri emancipation and terminate the order there. You can submit documentation proving Missouri’s decision, including the emancipation order and any notices from their child support office. If Puerto Rico continues collecting despite this, you may also want to contact the child support enforcement agency in Illinois, where you currently live, to help coordinate the case under federal guidelines that prevent duplicate enforcement.

You’re not alone in this—multi-state or multi-jurisdictional support issues happen more than people think. Keep copies of all paperwork and be persistent in following up with each agency. It may take time, but you have the right to challenge continued payments for an emancipated child. The key is making sure all jurisdictions are on the same page.