For many California children, determinations about the financial support that they may need from noncustodial parents occur in their parents’ divorce proceedings. Child support and child custody matters are often paramount to parents who choose to end their relationships and who must find ways to keep their children in safe and thriving home environments. However, not every child who may need child support is the child of divorce. Other scenarios can arise that may require a custodial parent to seek financial support for her child from the youth’s other parent.
Sometimes when a child’s parents are unmarried or when they do not live together, one parent can assume all of the responsibilities related to raising the child. That can place a heavy financial burden on the custodial parent, and the California Department of Child Support Services offers parents in such situations a way to pursue financial support from the noncustodial parent. There are more than 50 offices throughout the state and they can help parents achieve a number of support-related goals.
The state offices can help parents establish paternity for the purposes of securing child support. They can help individuals find noncustodial parents who may be avoiding their responsibilities to their children. They can also help parents with child support orders make changes to those documents, if needed.
Securing adequate financial support for a child can make a world of difference in the life of a young person and his custodial parent. However, like many other governmental and legal processes, establishing the right to child support can be complicated. Individuals can choose to use the services of family law attorneys to help them pursue child support to serve their children’s best interests.
