|
|
Access, Visitation, Paternity, & Child Support
The Child Support Enforcement
Program is a joint federal, state and local partnership to ensure that
parents provide support to their children. The program involves 54
separate state and territory systems, each with its own unique laws and
procedures. The program is usually run by state and local human service
agencies, often with the help of prosecuting attorneys and other law
enforcement officials, as well as officials of family or domestic
relations courts. At the federal level, the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) provides policy guidance, technical assistance,
training and funding to states, operates the Federal Parent Locator
Service, which uses computer matching to locate non-custodial parents
in order to establish and enforce child support orders, and provides
grants to states for child access and visitation services.
|
 |
|
|
All states and territories run a child support enforcement program, usually in the
human services department, department of revenue, or the state Attorney
General's office, often with the help of prosecuting
attorneys, district attorneys, other law enforcement agencies and
officials of family or domestic relations courts. Native American
Tribes, too, can operate culturally appropriate child support programs
with Federal funding. Families seeking government
child support services must apply directly through their state/local
agency or one of the tribes running the program. Services are available to a
parent with custody of a child whose other parent is living outside the
home. Services are mandatory for families receiving
assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
program. |
|
|
This Handbook on Child Support Enforcement is a guide to help you get
the child support payments your children need and deserve. Although it
is written for people who are working through Child Support Enforcement
(CSE) offices, it will also be useful to parents who are working with
private attorneys. |
|
Along with other child support issues all
states have guidelines for setting child support orders. Some
states have links to their guidelines on their websites, or you can
call the state CSE agency for a copy. Links to the state CSE
websites are at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.htm#exta
|
|
|
I understand there are guidelines for setting the amount of money that
will be ordered. How can I find the guidelines for my state? |
|
I'm a noncustodial parent and I can't visit or talk with my child even though I have a visitation order.
What can I do? |
|
|
We store all answers to our frequently asked questions in this database. You may
search it by category, keywords, or phrases. |
|
Projects and reports about topics of interest.
|
|
