After child support orders are issued, the payor(parent making the  support payments)parent often ask if a Income and Wage Garnishment order is actually necessary.   The payor parent asks if he/she can  make monthly payments  via check or cash so his/her employer does not get notified. The answer is NO.   Wage assignment for child support is automatic; it is not discretionary. It must be ordered.   However, it is the responsibility of the payee ( the parent receiving support) parent to  have the Income Withholding For Support Order actually served on the employer for it to go into effect.  Wage assignments make it much easier for both parents to carry on their support obligations.  Most employers are used to seeing these types of orders and the HR dept routinely processes such orders.