If you find yourself in a change of circumstances, such as losing your job, and it results in you being unable to make payments, the first thing to do is to contact the Office of Child Support Enforcement that issued your original child support order.
Visit the California Department of Child Support Services webpage to find the contact information for your local office, and let them know your financial situation has changed. The state would rather your child receive less than the original amount ordered than nothing at all from you and will likely award you a modification if you support your claim with documentation.
Open communication can reduce tension and build a foundation of honesty when it comes to making payments. If the court has ordered you to appear for failure to pay child support, appear on the date. Missing your court date will only worsen the situation and result in a warrant for your arrest. Sadly, too many kids grow up without the financial support they need when parents fail to pay court-ordered child support.
Now more than ever, it's becoming harder for deadbeat parents to skip out on child support. Strict laws have been enacted to establish and enforce child support orders. And federal, state and local agencies have powerful child-support collection tools at their disposal. You must first get a court order to establish child support - there are several ways to do this. First, you and your child's other parent can agree on an appropriate amount usually set by your state's guidelines for support.
A judge must approve your agreement and turn it into an official court order. If you and your child's other parent can't agree, you'll have to ask a Judge or local agency to set the amount. You can hire an experienced attorney in your area to file a request for a child support order. If you can't afford an attorney, don't give up hope.
Your state or local child support service office referred to as the "Department of Child Support Services" or the "Office of Child Support Services" can help parents establish, enforce, collect and modify child support orders. These government child support service offices don't represent either parent, but instead act on behalf of the state to make sure children receive the financial support they need.
Local offices can also establish paternity if necessary , obtain medical support orders, locate deadbeat parents, and find assets from which child support can be paid. The "Getting Help" section below includes information on how to contact your local child support services office. Once established, a child support order must be obeyed. A delinquent parent may be subject to any, or all, of the following enforcement tools:.
Select your state from the list below in order to learn more about the enforcement options available to you. The amount of child support you owe was originally determined using your income and financial assets and obligations based on reports provided at that time. However, circumstances do change. In fact, this can happen many times over the years that you are paying child support. Keep in mind that it is far better to request a modification due to changed circumstances than to fail to pay child support.
Either parent can request a modification due to changed circumstances. Examples of circumstances which may necessitate a change in the child support order include:. For your own protection, it is crucial to have the child support order formally modified by the court. Avoid entering into a non-binding oral agreement with your child's other parent. If there is a future dispute over the amount of money that is owed, any informal agreement may not be recognized as valid or binding by the court in fact, it is likely that this agreement won't be recognized.
Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. National Conference of State Legislatures. How the child support system affects low-income fathers. Updated September 17, Child support and employment services.
Updated July 29, Census Bureau. Published January United States Census Bureau. Updated January 30, Changing a child support order. Updated August Your Privacy Rights.
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