Florence, AZ – The Pinal County Attorney’s Office collected close to $21 million for child support last fiscal year, helping more than 11,500 families throughout the county.
“The Child Support Division collected a total of $20,835,550.00 from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. This represents a 3.67 percent increase from the previous fiscal year,” said James P. Walsh, Pinal County Attorney. “Our people worked hard and succeeded in providing needed resources to Pinal County families in these difficult economic times.”
The County Attorney’s Child Support Division is responsible for the collection of child support for Pinal County families. Most other counties are served by state offices.
“We are closer to the people we serve,” said Michelle Krstyen, Child Support Division Director. “We are proud of our accomplishments, since we also managed this success along with fulfilling all state and federal benchmarks and audit requirements.”
The child support division also established paternity orders for 527 children and 735 new child support orders, during last fiscal year.
“Part of our success is based on our close cooperation with local law enforcement agencies,” Walsh said. “Last fall we implemented a child support arrest warrant project to make sure we provided money for children before the holidays. It was very successful.”
“I would like to thank and recognize the work of Family Law Commissioner/Judge Pro Tem Theresa H. Ratliff of Pinal County Superior Court for her work with us and the County Board of Supervisors for helping us maintain this program, during these trying times, when people need them more than ever,” Walsh said.