You might be unsure how to collect child support for your child from the child’s father. There are some necessary steps that need to be followed before you start. Here we outline what those steps are.
Paternity
The first step is to establish paternity. Once the father of the child is known, a child support order can be established and a child support agency can collect and enforce a child support order.
To establish fatherhood you will need to do the following:
- If you were married when your child was born, it is legally assumed that the husband is the legal father.
- If you were not married when your child was born, you must legally determine the father of the child through a paternity test. This is genetic testing. The test is simple to take and highly accurate. If a paternity case is contested, either parent is able to request the genetic test.
Establish Child Support Order
Each state has its own official child support guidelines that dictate how much a parent is legally required to contribute to financially support his or her child. A lawyer will be able to help you determine this amount. If you are not working with a lawyer, your local child support office will be able to tell you your state’s support amounts.
Enforcing Child Support Orders
If the parent who is required to pay child support fails to do so, there are ways to obtain the money. Often this is done through direct withholding of the obligated parent’s paycheck. This money is sent to the state child support office. Working with a lawyer is the best way to ensure you receive the child support payments you are meant to.
Source: Office of Child Support Enforcement, How to Get Child Support, September 9, 2014
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