WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED?

Services available through the Department of Child Support Services include:

• Locating a non-custodial parent.
  
• Establishing, modifying and enforcing court-ordered child and/or medical support.
  
• Establishing paternity, making your child eligible for benefits or pensions she/he would not otherwise be entitled to, such as Social Security or inheritance, in addition to child support.
  
• Collecting child and spousal support payments when the spousal support obligation is part of a child support obligation that we are enforcing.

By requiring the non-custodial parent to pay child support promptly and consistently, a support payment pattern may be established that will allow the custodial party to plan for the future, which may include discontinuing public assistance.

The Department of Child Support Services will continue to handle a case after public assistance is discontinued, unless the custodial party asks us to terminate our services.

The Department of Child Support Services provides assistance to families on behalf of the State of California. We do not have the authority to act as your attorney.

The Department of Child Support Services does not have the authority to provide the following services:

• Restraining order preparation,
  
• Assistance with divorce matters,
  
• Resolution of custody or visitation matters, or
  
• Establishment of spousal support orders.

If you need a restraining order, please call the District Attorney's Victims' Assistance Program at (805) 654-3622 for assistance or visit their website at www.ventura.org/vcda/crime_victims_assistance (clicking on this link will take you to their website). If you need assistance with custody or visitation matters, please call the District Attorney's Child Recovery Division at (805) 477-1664.

HOW ARE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES OBTAINED?

If the custodial party is receiving public assistance for the child(ren), the caseworker at the Human Services Agency will automatically refer the case to our office. The custodial party must cooperate with the Department of Child Support Services unless a finding of good cause not to cooperate is established by the Human Services Agency. To claim good cause, the custodial party must contact his/her caseworker at Human Services Agency to obtain a Child Support Good Cause Claim for Noncooperation form. The form must be completed and appropriate documentation provided to the Human Services Agency.

If you are not receiving public assistance, you may request an application by writing, visiting our office at 4651 Telephone Road Suite #101, Ventura, CA 93003, calling us toll-free at (866) 901-3212, or accessing the state self service website at www.childsup-connect.ca.gov.

Services are available free of charge to anyone who needs assistance in collecting or paying child support. Although there is no charge for our services in California, certain legal actions require a small fee to be paid to another agency, but these are unusual and we will let you know about them before they occur.

A case will be opened and accounts established at the request of either parent or the custodial party. It is not necessary to be legally separated or divorced from your spouse to be eligible for services. When a child support file is opened, we can also enforce court ordered spousal support.

When completing your application, please provide as much information as possible about the other parent, including:

• Name, date of birth, and most current physical description and/or a photograph.
  
• Social security number.
  
• Driver's license number.
  
• Current or last known address.
  
• Name and address of last known employer.
  
• Name and address of any previous employer.
  
• Name and addresses of friends and relatives.
  
• If there are any previous court orders for support and where the orders were made. Please provide photocopies of any existing order you have in your possession.

With a name, date of birth, and social security number, we can make use of local, state and federal resources to locate the parent. You may find this information on old pay stubs, credit forms, tax returns or school documents.

Please Note: The Department of Child Support Services cannot act as your attorney to obtain a legal separation or divorce. We have no authority to act in matters of custody, visitation or property settlement. For assistance with these issues, you may act on your own behalf or seek legal assistance from a private attorney. The Ventura County Bar Association can assist you in selecting a lawyer. Please call the Lawyer Referral Service, (805) 983-6667, for additional information. The Family Law facilitator can provide assistance with completing court documents. Please see their website at courts.countyofventura.org. Click on "Legal Self-Help" and then "Family Law," or call (805) 662-6661.