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Any
parent or guardian of a child in need of support may open a case with
the Humboldt County Department of Child Support Services. Contact the DCSS for information
if want to open a case. To help expedite your case, please provide as much
information as possible about your child(ren) and the absent parent. |
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To get
an order for support, establish paternity or enforce a child support
order, the Department of Child Support Services must know where the absent parent
lives or works. |
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If paternity
(fatherhood) is not established for your child, or it is in dispute, the
Department of Child Support Services will attempt to do so for you. No support
orders will be issued without established paternity. Paternity can
be established at the birth of your child. Click
here to read about the Paternity Opportunity Program. |
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Once the
Department of Child Support Services locates the absent parent, and there is no
previously existing support order, the Department of Child Support Services
will seek
a support order for money and/or medical coverage for your child. A
number of factors will determine the level of monetary and medical
support. Read
on for more information. |
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The Department of Child Support Services
will enforce
a support order if the absent parent is not making any payments, is not
paying the full amount of support, or simply at the request of the
custodial parent. In accordance with State and Federal guidelines, the
CSED will use several methods
of enforcement to collect and distribute payments. |
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Noncustodial
parents, or parents who currently do not have primary physical custody
of their child(ren), have an important role in the child support
process. This
section helps to explain their role and answers some of the most
commonly asked questions of noncustodial parents. |
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It's
important that you understand what your legal
relationship is with the Department of Child Support Services. If you desire more
personalized assistance for your support case, you may seek the services
of a. |
