- Q: What is the cost of your services?
A: Our services are free.
- Q: How do I open a case with the Department of Child Support Services?
A: Upon your request, the Department of Child Support Services
mails an application to you that should be completed and
returned to our office. To request an application, call
1-866-901-3212, or pick one up at Ventura County DCSS, 4651
Telephone Road, Suite 101, Ventura, CA 93030; or download
and print one from this website.
- Q: Who is eligible for services?
A: Any parent or guardian can apply for child support. Parents or guardians receiving public assistance will automatically be referred to the Department of Child Support Services by the Human Services Agency.
- Q: What type of documentation is needed to proceed with a child support case?
A: The noncustodial parent’s Social Security number is the most important piece of information needed. Other helpful information would include place of employment, home and work address, date of birth and any existing court order information.
- Q: My children and I are receiving public assistance but I did not apply for your services. Why was a case opened?
A: State and Federal law requires recipients receiving public assistance to participate in the child support program. The Human Services Agency must send us a referral notifying us when a family goes on aid. The Department of Child Support Services must open a case and establish paternity, child support and medical support orders for the child(ren), and enforce child and medical support orders.
- Q: I am applying for public assistance. Do I have to personally ask the other parent for child support?
A: No. As a condition of eligibility for public assistance, you must cooperate with the Department of Child Support Services in getting paternity, child support and medical support orders established and enforced by providing as much information as you can.
- Q: What does it mean to “cooperate” with the Department of Child Support Services?
A: To “cooperate” means you must provide any information or documents needed by the Department of Child Support Services to establish paternity and/or locate the other parent, and to get support payments for your child(ren). If you are receiving public assistance and you do not cooperate, you must claim “Good Cause” for not doing so. “Good Cause” means you must have acceptable reasons for not cooperating with the Department of Child Support Services such as the probability of physical or emotional harm to you or your children.
- Q: What does it mean to “assign” my support rights?
A: When you “assign” your support rights to the county, you are giving the county the right to keep any child and spousal support and medical support money that was owed to you at the time you received public assistance. The county will use that money to pay back any public assistance payments given to you or paid on behalf of your child(ren). Any support money collected that is more than the public assistance benefits you receive will be paid to you. Support rights are assigned by operation of law when you and/or your child(ren) receive public cash assistance.
- Q: Why is it important to establish paternity?
A: The court cannot order the noncustodial parent to pay child support until paternity is legally established. It may also be important in determining eligibility for receiving Social Security or Veterans’ benefits.
- Q: What happens after paternity is established?
A: In most cases, the Department of Child Support Services will establish a child and medical support order once paternity is established. After establishing an order, the DCSS will use all resources available to enforce the court order.
- Q: My children and I need financial assistance now. The noncustodial parent left us years ago. Will the Department of Child Support Services still try to find him/her?
A: The longer the absent parent has been gone, the more difficult it may be to locate him/her, but every effort will be made. The Department of Child Support Services is required by law to try to locate the noncustodial parent.
- Q: If the Department of Child Support Services cannot find the noncustodial parent, does that mean I cannot get public assistance benefits?
A: No. As long as you have cooperated with the Department of Child Support Services, public assistance benefits will be available to you while the DCSS tries to find the noncustodial parent.
- Q: The other parent is in jail. Can I still receive support?
A: It is unlikely that support can be collected until he or she is released from custody and receives income or acquires assets.
- Q: I want the Department of Child Support Services to enforce my court order. Is the information I provide available to the public?
A: No, all our files are confidential and information will not be released except as authorized by law or by court order. However, anything filed with the court becomes public record and may be seen by the public.
- Q: How do I get my child support order modified?
A: Either party may ask for a review of the child support order by contacting the Department of Child Support Services and requesting a modification. Once documents are completed and all required information is obtained, the DCSS will review the child support order. There is certain criteria that must be met before the department will proceed with modification of an order. Either party maintains the option of filing his or her own motion with the court to modify an order.
- Q: If I am the custodial party, can I close my case?
A: If the custodial party is not receiving public assistance and the case was opened pursuant to the custodial party’s request, the case can be closed at his or her request. If the custodial party and child(ren) are receiving public assistance, or there are public assistance arrears, the case will not be closed.
- Q: What should I do when I get served with the Summons and Complaint if I am a noncustodial parent?
A: Call our office to discuss the case and/or make an appointment . You may also respond to the Summons and Complaint by completing the Answer contained in the packet and filing it with the Superior Court clerk within 30 days.
- Q: How do I request a genetic test?
A: If you have been served with a Summons and Complaint,
or a default order has been taken against you within the
last six months, you may be able to request genetic testing.
For information, or to request a genetic test, call our
office at 1-866-901-3212.
- Q: What if I ignore the Summons and Complaint?
A: The Proposed Judgment served with the Summons and Complaint will be made an order of the court if the noncustodial parent does not respond.
- Q: Can I speak with the judge if I file an Answer with the court?
A: Yes, when you file an Answer with the court you will be given a court date to appear. If you contest paternity or the amount of child support determined, you may request a hearing with the judge.
- Q: How is the amount of child support I have to pay determined?
A: The child support obligation is based on the income of both parents, the amount of time each parent cares for the child(ren), and several other factors. The court uses child support guidelines provided by the California Family Code.
- Q: How does my employer know how much money to deduct for child support?
A: After a child support order is set, a wage assignment is sent to your employer with instructions on how much to deduct and where to send the payment.
- Q: Is there a way to avoid going to court?
A: Yes. You can avoid going to court by signing a stipulation, a legal agreement. Call our office to schedule an appointment to discuss your case.
- Q: What does the stipulation contain?
A: The stipulation contains the agreement that the noncustodial parent is the parent of the child(ren), the amount of child support ordered for each child and past support for the time child(ren) received public cash assistance. The stipulation may also contain a medical support order.
- Q: My child’s other parent is in the military, but I don’t know where s/he is stationed. Can your office find him/her?
A: Yes, current address information for military personnel may be obtained from the federal government. If you know what branch of the military the noncustodial parent is in it will help.
- Q: My ex-spouse has remarried and has another family to support. How will this affect the support that my children are due?
A: The amount of the child support order can be affected because s/he has the responsibility for supporting another child(ren). However, this does not mean that his or her responsibility to the first family goes away.
- Q: Do I still have to pay child support if I lose my job?
A: You are still obligated to pay your support but you should call our office and ask to have your case reviewed. The court can modify the child support order when circumstances change.
- Q: Can I change the child support order if my child comes to live with me?
A: Yes. When there is a change of visitation or custody of the child, you may either ask our office to modify the court order or go to court and ask for a change in the child support order. You may be able to reduce the child support or begin receiving child support from the other parent.
- Q: The noncustodial parent and I already have an agreement regarding child support. Why are you pursuing him/her?
A: Our office must legally establish paternity and child support in a court order for children receiving public assistance. An agreement, even a notarized agreement, is not an enforceable court order.
- Q: Will you close your case if I am no longer receiving public assistance?
A: We will continue to collect child support on your behalf unless you request us to close the non-assistance portion of your case. Even if we do close your portion of the case, we will continue to collect the child support owed for the time period you were receiving public assistance.
- Q: How long before I start receiving child support payments?
A: It varies from case to case depending on the information provided and the cooperation from the noncustodial parent.
- Q: Is child support dischargeable by bankruptcy?
A: No. Child support is not dischargeable through the bankruptcy process.
- Q: Can a friend, relative, or current spouse contact the Department of Child Support Services on my behalf?
A: Privacy laws prohibit our representatives from discussing or verifying any aspect of your case with third parties. If an attorney is representing you in the child support case, our office cannot speak with you directly. Your attorney must handle any discussion of child support with our office.
- Q: When does child support stop?
A: The child support obligation stops accruing once a child reaches the age of emancipation (18) or graduates from high school, whichever is later. Support may be charged up until the child’s 19th birthday, if proof of full-time high school attendance is provided in writing. The court may order child support to continue beyond the age of 18 in special circumstances. When the child emancipates, any past due support balance owed remains due and payable.
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