Parents' Rights and Responsibilities

Parents' Responsibilities

When receiving services from their child support agency, both parents are responsible for telling the child support agency if they:

move, change jobs, change their name, or have a change of income (required by state law) - Parents can update their addresses and phone numbers on the Child Support Online Services website or by contacting their child support agency.
- If you move and have a Child Support Debit Card, you need to call the phone number listed on the back of your card. The post office cannot forward new or replacement cards.
change legal custody or placement of their children
ask the court to change their support order (The child support agency must approve a legal agreement between parents that changes the amount of support. Parents should submit the agreement to their child support agency before they file the agreement with the court.)
change health insurance coverage
fail to receive or pay child support within the month due
schedule any court hearings about their child support case

Parents are also responsible for telling the child support agency if:

the other parent or their minor child dies
the paying parent will be receiving a lump-sum payment of any kind (such as an insurance settlement, an inheritance, or retroactive Social Security payments) if past-due support is owed

Parents receiving or wanting to receive support are responsible for telling their child support agency:

any information that they have or could find out that is needed to find the other parent
any information that they have or could find out that is needed to establish paternity (legal fatherhood)
any information that they have or could find out that is needed to establish an order for child support

Both parents should always cooperate with their child support worker by completing necessary forms and keeping appointments.
Parents applying for child support services should provide the child support agency with copies of any court orders they already have for support or legal fatherhood (paternity). Parents should also provide copies of divorce decrees and any temporary or marital support orders.
Parents applying for child support services should provide any information they know about the other parent, including full name, place of birth, current address, employment or other income information, and Social Security or Tax Identification number.

Updated October 25, 2011