WHO IS ENTITLED TO CHILD SUPPORT?

Any person who has custody of, or is caring for, a minor child(ren) when one or both of the parents are absent from the home.

This may include:

• Single parents
• Parents who are married, but separated
• Legal guardians
• Relatives
• Others

WHAT CAN CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES DO FOR ME?

The District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division will take all steps to help a custodial parent exercise their legal right to receive child support.

Depending upon the individuals’ case, the District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division may help by:

• Locating the absent parent(s) of the child(ren)
• Performing DNA tests to determine the biological father of the child(ren)
• Making a legal determination as to the paternity of the child(ren)
• Establishing an order for child support, when no order exists
• Collecting the child support owed to a custodial parent under a pre-existing order
• Enforcing a current order to pay ongoing monthly child support

HOW CAN PATERNITY BE ESTABLISHED LEGALLY FOR MY CHILD(REN)?

The easiest way to establish paternity is for the biological father and mother to complete a notarized written statement acknowledging paternity.

If the parties have not signed an acknowledgement of paternity, genetic testing may be obtained through the District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division in a paternity action.

WHY IS ESTABLISHING PATERNITY IMPORTANT?

By establishing paternity, a child obtains all the legal rights and privileges of a child born within a marriage.

Those rights include:

• Financial support from both parents
• Entitlement to the father’s Social Security benefits, pensions and veterans benefits, if available
• Inheritance rights from both parents
• Information about the father’s family medical history
• Access to medical insurance coverage for the child

HOW WILL YOU ENFORCE MY CHILD SUPPORT ORDER?

When a parent refuses to pay court-ordered child support or does not pay the full amount, the District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division may do one or more of the following:

• Reduce child support arrears to judgment
• Enter a payment plan with the non-custodial parent
• Withhold the child support from the parent’s:
  • wages
  • workers’ compensation benefits
  • unemployment benefits
  • federal or state income tax refunds
  • Report delinquencies to credit bureaus
  • Seek Court suspension or revocation of a professional, drivers, or recreation license
  • File a contempt of court action
  • Refer cases for criminal non-support charges

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 What if I am raising a relative’s child?

The District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division will ask the court to order both parents to pay child support.

What if the child’s parents are still in school?

All parents, including students, have a responsibility to support their child(ren).

If I don’t receive my child support, will the non-custodial parent go to jail?

In cases where all other enforcement remedies have been exhausted, civil or criminal charges may be filed against the non-custodial parent that can result in incarceration.

What if the parent responsible for paying child support lives in another state?

When necessary, the District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division will work with other states to collect your child support.

What about custody and visitation?

Custody, visitation and child support are all separate issues.  The District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division deals only with issues of child support.

How soon will I receive child support?

Child support collections take time.  If the locate information is current and the non-custodial parent lives and works in Oklahoma, the District Attorney’s Child Support Services Division may begin collecting support within a few months.  In other cases, collections may take longer.

Information about the District Attorney Child Support Services Division

• Currently has a case load of approximately 10,000
• Collects approximately $1,500,000.00 a month
• 2000, 2001 and 2004 Child Support Office of the Year
• 2005 and 2006 Oklahoma OKDHS Excellence Quality Award
• 2005 National Child Support Services Association Outstanding Program Award
• The District Attorney’s office has 2 child support offices, one located in Norman that serves Cleveland and McClain Counties and one located in Pauls Valley Office that serves Garvin County.

For more information visit www.okdhs.org/childsupport

 Child Support Guideline Calculator http://204.87.68.21/childsupport/guidelines/calc.htm

Application for Child Support Services

http://www.okdhs.org/programsandservices/cse/cssvcs/docs/appovw.htm