What are the steps to file for child support?

Question

Assuming that the two parents were not married? I just want a Reader's Digest version, because I have no idea how this works.

Answer 1

The first step will be to go to the Family court house and get the paperwork. Some family courts offer classes to help fill out the papers but you should check with your family court. After everything is filled out, you take it to the family court and file the papers. There will be a filing fee but if your monthly expenses exceed your monthly income then you fill out a fee waiver form and the courts will pay the fee for you. If you are going for full custody then you have to prove that the other parent is unfit to take care of a child. After the paperwork is filed you will go to mediation to try to come to a agreement with the other parent so you will not have to have the judge decide for you. If you come to an agreement then you will have another court date to see the judge to finalize the paperwork. Then you have ANOTHER court date with the mediator to decide child support. Child support is decided upon yours and the other parents income and how much time the child spends with each parent. After all that is done, you go on your merry way and hope that you never have to go back again.

Answer 2

That depends on the city and state you live. The first step is to ask. Go legal from there. I've paid child support for 6 years and I still don't understand why all the rules. I just pay it.

Answer 3

Go to Childsupport office in your county and tell them you want to file for childsupport and they will give you the papers to fill out and tell you the information you need.  They will then file the papers with the court to get everything started.  

Answer 4

If the parents were not married and no affidavit of parentage was ever signed and filed and no DNA test was ever performed, first you would have to call your county court house and ask for the family support division and set up a time to file a paternity complaint. A paternity complaint is when the mother of the child files with the court system to have the alleged father of the child served with court papers saying he has 28 days to either sign an affidavit of parentage [which is a paper saying that he admits to being the father of the child] or request a DNA test [which is paid for by him as long as he is proven to be the father] and then after this happens and if he is determined to be the father then the mother of the child can go back to support office and file a motion to receive child support, they will have to get his tax returns and determine his income and then determine the amount of support sought, and then they will send him the paper work and he can either sign or he will have to go to court and contest what is on the paper work the judge will hear what he has to say, hear what the mother has to say and then more than likely the just will order the child support against his will.