How to deal with Child Support

So you received a scary letter from Child Support Services and you don't know what to do? Read on...

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Two forms of picture I.D.
• Black or blue ink pen.

1. You probably received a letter called a Summons & Complaint by which someone is naming you the father or mother of their child. First you need to completely read all of the papers and documents you received which should answer many of your questions.
2. Now that you know who is filing the complaint naming you the father/mother of their child, you must file an "Answer" in court. An "Answer" is a formal legal response to the Summons & Complaint in which you either acknowledge or contest paternity. So in other words you will be telling Child Support Services that you either agree or disagree that you are the father/mother of the child.
3. To file the "Answer" in court you must fill out the document provided by the Child Support Services. the form should indicate that you are filing an "Answer" to the complaint. Do not worry if you are unable to find this document or if you are unsure how to complete it because you will need to go to your nearest Family Law Facilitators Office where they will tell you how to get another document to file an "Answer" or help you fill out the one you already have and file it in court.
4. Find the nearest Family Law Facilitators Office in Los Angeles County by copying and pasting the web address provided below to your browser address bar, and go there as soon as possible. You have 45 days to respond to the Summons & Complaint if you received it in the mail and 30 days if someone gave it to you personally. To be on the safe side just assume you have 30 days!
   
   http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/familylaw/pdfs/facilitatorloc.pdf
5. Eventually you will receive a response scheduling you for a date to appear in court or for genetic testing. Make sure you do not miss or you may lose by default! The possibility of paying child support for 18yrs.is a good incentive to not miss don't you think? Good luck!

Tips & Warnings

• Use a dictionary to look up words you may not understand.
• The Family Law Facilitators Office is free of charge.
• You no longer have to pay to file an answer in court.
• Even if you believe you are not the father/mother of the child, DO NOT throw away the documents you receive from Child Support Services. Receiving these documents is much like getting a traffic ticket. In order to have it dismissed you must contest or challenge the citation and show up in court. If you don't show up you will lose by default. Just like when the police officer doesn't show up on a traffic ticket you may have received and you win by default? Well it's the same thing, only the police officer here is the person filing the complaint against you!