How do i start child support

Apply for Child Support Services

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To request versions of these forms accessible to persons with visual disabilities, make a note of the form name and request it on our accessibility webpage.

A child support services case can be opened by either parent, or a legal guardian, whether or not a child support court order exists. If you already have a court order, opening a case offers neutral assistance with every part of the process, keeps records, and helps both parties stay on track. If you do not have a case, applying for child support means your local child support agency will help you locate the other parent, establish legal paternity/parentage if required, get a court order and see that it is enforced in every state and many foreign countries. To start the process, you have several options:

To apply for services, complete our online application (Mire en la esquina superior derecha para cambiar el formulario a español.)
You will be taken to a secure website where you can enter all the information necessary to complete an application, which will then be automatically routed to the child support agency in your area.
Please plan to take 30-45 minutes to complete all of the parts of the online application.

* The Upload Document feature is currently unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

* Please note, persons currently receiving CalWORKS (government cash assistance/welfare) are automatically referred to their local child support agency for services. If you are a CalWORKS beneficiary and have questions about your case, please contact your local office.

To apply in person, download and complete an Application for Child Support Services Packet (found below).
Then, return it to the child support agency in your area to be processed.
Applications are also available on a walk-in basis at all county and regional child support offices.

As stated above, if you are receiving CalWORKS (government cash assistance/ welfare), you will automatically be referred to a child support office in your area.

Self-Service “Application for Support Services” Packet

English | Spanish

The following forms are included in the application packet:

Participant Responsibility to Protect Confidential Information
- English | Spanish
Notice of Child Support Services Program
- English| Spanish
Simplified Application for Child Support Services
- English | Spanish
Confidential Parentage Questionnaire
- English | Spanish
Request for Support Services
- English | Spanish
Family Violence Questionnaire Cover Letter
- English | Spanish
Family Violence Questionnaire
- English | Spanish
Visitation Verification
- English | Spanish
Health Insurance Information
- English | Spanish
Income and Expense Declaration
- English | Spanish
Declaration of Support Payment History
- English | Spanish
Instrucciones Con Respecto Al Uso De Formularios Judiciales Traducidos En Español
- Spanish
Complaint Resolution – State Hearing Information
- English | Spanish

Enroll for Child Support Services

If you're new to the Division of Child Support you will need to submit some paperwork to get our services. Watch this brief video to learn about our services. To receive our services you will need to fill out a paper enrollment form. Follow the steps below to open a child support case:

If you need assistance with your application, contact the Community Relations Unit at 1--800-457-6202 or [email protected].

Print enrollment paperwork from this website or
Fill out the requested information at this link and an application will be mailed to you or
Call 1-800-457-6202 to have one mailed to you allowing 5-10 business days for delivery or
Drop by any of our nine offices
Complete the forms to the best of your ability. If you're having trouble we have a video that will walk you through the process.
Be sure to sign the forms
Mail or fax forms with any supporting documentation to:
- By fax : toll free 1-866-668-9518
- By Mail

                                   Division of Child Support
                                   Central Services
                                   P.

O. Box 11520
Tacoma, WA 98411

Once we receive your forms, you will receive a letter within 7-10 days. Send one set of forms for each noncustodial parent. If you have any questions about enrolling for child support services, please call 1-800-457-6202. Please read the following statements and find the one that best suits your situation so we may better serve your individual needs.

I want to receive child support

Print, complete, sign, then mail, fax or bring us both the 18-078 and the 14-057 forms:

Click here for the 18-078 Enrollment Form (called a Nonassistance Support Enforcement Services application) (English) and the 14-057 Child Support Enforcement Referral (English)

Forms are available in Spanish below.

Click here for the 18-078 Enrollment Form (Spanish) and the 14-057 Child Support Enforcement Referral (Spanish)

Keep the following for your records:

16-072 Nonassistance Support Enforcement Information (English)
16-072sp Nonassistance Support Enforcement Information (Spanish)

I want to pay child support

Print, complete, sign then mail, fax or bring us the following forms:

14-057B for paying parent complete the enrollment form (called the Noncustodial Parent Child Support Enforcement Application) (English)
14-057Bsp for paying parent complete the enrollment form (Spanish)

Keep the following for your records:

16-107 Noncustodial Parent's Rights and Responsibilities (English)
16-107sp Noncustodial Parent's Rights and Responsibilities (Spanish)

I also want to receive reimbursement for child care

Print, complete, sign, then mail, fax or bring us the following forms:

18-607 Child Care Verification (English)
18-607sp Child Care Verification (Spanish)

I want to receive child support and I have a child support order

Print, complete, sign, then mail, fax or bring us the 18-078, 14-057 and the 18-433 forms:

18-078 Enrollment Form (called a Nonassistance Support Enforcement Services application) (English)
14-057 Child Support Enforcement Referral (English)
18-433 Declaration of Support Payments (English)

Forms available in Spanish below.

18-078sp Enrollment Form (Spanish)
14-057sp Child Support Enforcement Referral (Spanish)
18-433sp Declaration of Support Payments (Spanish)

Keep the following for your records:

16-072 Non-assistance Support Enforcement Information (English)
16-072sp Non-assistance Support Enforcement Information (Spanish)

I just want the Child Support Schedule Worksheets and instructions

Child Support Schedule Worksheets (also in Spanish) or you can complete and print our automated worksheet.
Instructions

What We Do

We improve lives by delivering excellent child support services.

How We Do It

We provide respect and resources to every person every day.

up to what age they pay, how much percentage of income they can withhold, and what documents are needed to apply for alimony

1.

Who can apply for child support?

Alimony is maintenance that minor, disabled and/or needy family members are entitled to receive from their relatives and spouses, including former ones.

A child can count on alimony:

if he is under the age of 18 and has not yet become fully capable by decision of the guardianship or court. Alimony in favor of a child may be filed by his guardian, custodian, adoptive or natural parent with whom the child remains;
if he is over 18 years of age but has been declared legally incompetent.

One of the spouses can count on alimony if:

he needs and is recognized Disabled adults who are entitled to alimony are considered disabled people of groups I, II, III and persons who have reached pre-retirement age (55 years for women and 60 years for men) or the generally established retirement age.0010
wife, including ex, is pregnant or less than three years have passed since the birth of a common child;
a spouse, including a former one, needs and cares for a common disabled child under 18 years of age or a child disabled since childhood of group I;
ex-spouse Persons in need are those whose financial situation is insufficient to meet the needs of life, taking into account their age, health status and other circumstances. marriage or within five years thereafter, and the spouses have been married for a long time.0010

Also, child support can be received by:

disabled and needy parents, including stepfather and stepmother, from their adult able-bodied children. This rule does not apply to guardians, trustees and adoptive parents;
disabled and needy grandparents - from their adult able-bodied grandchildren, if they cannot receive maintenance from their children or spouse, including the former;
minor grandchildren - from their grandparents, who have sufficient funds for this, if they cannot receive alimony from their parents. After the age of majority, grandchildren can count on alimony if they are recognized as disabled and they cannot receive assistance from their parents or spouses, including former ones;
incapacitated persons under 18 years of age - from their adult and able-bodied brothers and sisters, if they cannot receive them from their parents, and incapacitated persons over 18 years of age - if they cannot receive alimony from their children;
disabled and needy persons who raised and supported a child for more than five years - from their pupils who have become adults, if they cannot receive maintenance from their adult able-bodied children or spouses, including former ones. This rule does not apply to guardians, trustees and adoptive parents;
social service organizations, educational, medical or similar organizations in which the child is kept can apply for child support. In this case, alimony can be collected only from the parents, but not from other family members. Organizations can place the funds received in the bank at interest and withhold half of the income received for the maintenance of children.

2.How to apply for child support?

If there is no agreement between the parties on the payment of alimony or the other party refuses to pay them, apply to the court at the place of your residence:

to the justice of the peace, if the recovery of alimony is not related to the establishment, contestation of paternity or motherhood, or the involvement of other interested parties;
to the district court - in all other cases.

If one of the parents voluntarily pays support without a notarized agreement, the court can still collect support from him in favor of the child.

You can file for child support at any time as long as you or the person you represent are eligible.

The plaintiff does not pay state duty for consideration of the case on recovery of alimony in court.

3. What documents are needed to apply for child support?

The child support claim must be accompanied by:

copies of it, one for the judge, the defendant, and each of the third parties involved;
documents confirming the circumstances that allow you to apply for alimony. Such documents, for example, may be a birth certificate of a child, a certificate of marriage or its dissolution;
a single housing document and income statements for all family members;
calculation of the amount you expect to receive towards child support. The document must be signed by the plaintiff or his representative with a copy for each of the defendants and involved third parties;
if the claim will not be filed by the plaintiff himself, additionally attach a power of attorney or other document confirming the authority of the person who will represent his interests, for example, a birth certificate.

As a rule, maintenance is ordered from the moment the application is submitted to the court. They can be accrued for the previous period (but not more than three years before the day of going to court) if you provide evidence in court that you tried to contact the other party and agree or the defendant hides his income or evades paying alimony. Such evidence can be letters sent by e-mail, telegrams or registered letters with notification.

4. What is the amount of alimony?

The court determines the amount of alimony based on the financial situation of both parties. Alimony for the maintenance of minor children, as a rule, is:

per child - a quarter of income;
for two children - a third of the income;
three or more children - half of the income.

These shares can be reduced or increased taking into account the financial and marital status of the parties and other important ones, including the presence of other minor and / or disabled adult children, or other persons whom he is obliged by law to support; low income, health or disability of the support payer or the child in whose favor they are collected.

"> factors. When determining the amount of alimony, the court seeks to maintain the level of financial support that the child had before the divorce or separation of the parents. If each of the parents has children, the court determines the amount of alimony in favor of the less well-to-do of them.

In addition to the share income, the court may order child support or a portion of it in the form of a certain amount of money.As a rule, such measures are resorted to when the defendant hides part of his income and a share of his official income cannot provide the child with the standard of living that he had.

In exceptional circumstances - illness, disability of the child, lack of suitable housing for permanent residence, etc. - the court may oblige one or both parents to additional expenses.

The amount of alimony is indexed in proportion to the growth of the subsistence minimum (for the population group to which their recipient belongs).

As a general rule, maintenance withheld from the debtor's income for the maintenance of a minor child cannot exceed 70% of his income. In other cases - 50% of income.

5. Who can not pay child support?

Parents are required to support their children after birth and up to 18 years of age, if the child does not marry earlier or there is no Emancipation - declaring a minor fully capable. It is possible if a minor who has reached the age of 16 works under an employment contract (including under a contract) or, with the consent of his parents (adoptive parents, guardian), is engaged in entrepreneurial activities. The decision on the emancipation of a minor is taken by the guardianship and guardianship authorities with the consent of the parents (adoptive parents, guardian). If there is no consent from the parents, the decision on emancipation can be made by the court.

"> emancipated. Parents must support the child, even if he does not need material assistance. The incapacity of the parents, the recognition of their incapacity in court or the deprivation of parental rights also does not release from this obligation.

Alimony may be denied: or spouse, including an ex, if he or she has become disabled and needs help due to alcohol, drug abuse, or intentional crime, or has behaved unworthily in marriage, such as gambling;

former spouse, if the marriage did not last long. The court itself decides which marriage is considered short-lived, taking into account the age of the spouses, the number of previous marriages, the time spent together and other circumstances;

disabled and needy parents, including stepfathers and stepmothers, who demand maintenance from their children if the court establishes that they evaded parental duties or were deprived of parental rights;

educators, if they supported and brought up children under five years of age or did it improperly;

to a disabled ex-spouse in need of assistance, if he has entered into a new marriage;

to a child if adopted by another family.

If alimony debts have accumulated...

Salnikova Veronika

Lawyer, partner of YAG "Yakovlev and Partners"

June 16, 2021

Tips

Pay attention to the date of publication of the material: the information may be out of date due to changes in legislation or law enforcement practice.

How to collect them, what threatens the parent-debtor and in what case will he be released from liability?

Through which court to collect alimony from a father of many children?

“In 2018, the Magistrate's Court ruled to collect alimony from her husband for the maintenance of two minor children. In 2020, we had twins. Currently, the marriage is not dissolved. Tell me where to apply (to the world or district court) and how to file an application to collect alimony for twins?

Alimony (funds for the maintenance of minor children) can be collected through the court in the order of writ or action proceedings. Writ proceedings are a simplified procedure for collecting alimony in the Magistrate's Court. When filing an application, the court issues a court order without summoning the plaintiff and the defendant. Claim proceedings are carried out in the district court with the summons of the parties.

As a general rule, if the parent-debtor already pays child support, then they should be collected on other children through the district court. The mother of twins needs to apply to the district court at her place of residence or the defendant.

You can file a claim with an attorney. In addition, sample applications are often placed in courts. You can use this sample, detailing your situation and attaching supporting documents.

(Answers to other questions of alimony recipients and their payers can be found in the articles "About child support - in detail", "About the payment of alimony - on real examples", "Cross-border alimony").

What threatens a parent for non-payment of alimony?

For late payment or non-payment of alimony in full, the debtor parent may be held liable - administrative (Article 5. 35.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation) or criminal (Article 157 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Bailiffs bring to administrative responsibility negligent parents. This is possible in the event of non-payment without good reason of funds for the maintenance of children according to a judicial act, a court order or an agreement on the payment of alimony. The court already attracts criminal liability for malicious evasion from the fulfillment of maintenance obligations of parents.

On April 27, 2021, the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation approved a resolution stating that “violation of a judicial act or agreement on the payment of alimony should be understood as non-payment of alimony in the amount, on time and in the manner established by this decision or agreement.” Partial payment of alimony cannot exclude the application of liability measures (read about this also in the news “The Plenum of the Supreme Court clarified the nuances of administrative responsibility for non-payment of alimony”) .

In which case will the debtor parent be released from liability despite the child support debt?

If the parent-debtor has good reasons for which he cannot pay child support in the prescribed amount, he has the right to go to court and ask to change the procedure for collection. In the presence of such reasons, the debtor may be released from liability.

Valid reasons may be recognized such circumstances in which non-payment of alimony occurred regardless of the will of their payer: his illness (incapacity for work), his military service on conscription, force majeure circumstances, the fault of other persons, for example, non-payment of wages by the employer, delay or incorrect transfer bank of funds to the recipient of alimony.

The list of reasons that may be recognized as valid for exemption from liability is not exhaustive. In all cases, the judge must assess whether specific circumstances can be attributed to the number of good reasons for non-payment of alimony.

How do bailiffs force persistent non-payers to fulfill maintenance obligations?

If the parent does not just evade the payment of alimony, but hides and prevents their collection, i.e. becomes a malicious defaulter, the bailiffs start the procedure for searching for the debtor. But they can do this only if there is a statement from the alimony claimant. During the search, bailiffs try to locate the debtor and his property in order to bring him to justice and force him to fulfill maintenance obligations. How do they do it?

Bailiffs are endowed with special powers. They have the right:

receive personal data from the internal affairs authorities, the tax authorities, the Pension Fund, registry offices, traffic police;
check information through the customs authorities;
check in banks information about accounts, deposits, securities;
to interview relatives, friends, colleagues - everyone who has information about the non-payer;
to travel to the location of the debtor's property for its examination and evaluation;
use information obtained through the involvement of a private detective bureau or from open sources, including those posted on personal pages on social networks.
Learn more