Does anyone know what the procedure is for Child Support Services?

I called in for an application for child support, filed it out, mailed it back and now received a letter saying that my case was opened. In a seperate envelope I got more papers that I need to fill out. It says "A child support order order needs to be established prior to our office pursuing child support or health insurance enforcement on your behalf" That confuses me. A child support order needs to be established??? Isnt that what I am asking them to do???? So help with that one is one part of my question...the other is ... will it be after receiving these forms that they will try to contact/locate him? Or do they try to contact him as soon as they get my initial application to let him know that he's being sought after for child support? FYI: These forms ask for info on health insurance (something I already provided in my application), babysitting fees I pay, other bills of mine such as rent, utilities, auto, etc.

Yes, I know we'll have to go to court to finalize everything...but when do they contact him. Is it after getting my application .. you know, just to inform him? Or will they not try to contact him until after I've submitted these other forms?

CSS needs to be sure that there is no standing order for child support before they can proceed with getting one. which is what they did. just because you say there isn't, doesn't mean they won't check first. it's what attorney's always research prior to starting a case. now that they determined there wasn't a previous order, they can proceed. the second packet you received is all the info they will need to determine the amount of child support you will need. yes the questions seem repetitive, but you still need to fill everything out because this information will be transferred to the court documents. good luck and be patient. sometimes this takes as long as 2 years to see payments. but as soon as the order gets taken care of, you should be set. do keep in mind that this is only the support order and does not take care of custodial issues. make sure you take care of that in family court as well.

edit: they will serve him with the summons and complaint after you fill out the second packet and they open the case with the local child support court.

It needs to be court ordered by a judge first.

you have to go to court to get a child support order....

If you can afford it, then get a lawyer to help you through the process. If you cant, the go to legal aid and they can help you. You need to seek the advice of people knowledgeable of the system in your state...thats a lawyer.

Nothing will happen until you fill out the scond round of forms.

have you been to court yet? are you divorced yet? the court will establish how support will be administered by the income of the child's father. also, visitation rights will be giving at that time. CSS is not a legal service. CSS it is a state funded service that doesn't get involved with cases until the non-custodial parent refuses to pay support over a course of time and the arrears have increased. the 1st thing you should have done was get a lawyer, get a divorce(or go to family court and establish a support order if you weren't married). the judge should then order support for you child(ren). now if the father doesn't show up for court, the judge may extend the proceedings for a number of weeks. (this is supposed to give the other parent time to gather his/her case to present to the court) remember CSS does not make the order (that's for the courts). CSS enforces the order and makes the other parent pay via check garnishes or threatening jail time.

You have to go to court first. Fill out the appropriate forms. They give you a court date. You show up for the hearing, then the judge orders child support, etc. When it is an order given by the judge, then you go to the child support office with a copy of the order. After, you fill out the application at the child support office. They locate where he works, and take the money out of his pay check electronically.