Parents' Rights and Responsibilities

Parents' Rights

Parents who apply for child support services have a right to:

• receive child support services from their county or tribal child support agency (Divorced and separated parents should apply for services in the county where their divorce or legal separation was granted.)
  
• receive help in getting and enforcing a child support court order
  
• ask that the child support agency notify him or her if the agency takes administrative enforcement actions against the other parent (These actions include the seizure of property and denial of licenses. Parents should put this request in writing.)
  
• be told if the child support agency plans to close their case
  
• receive most child support services free of charge if they take part in the W-2, SSI Caretaker Supplement, or Kinship Care programs (Families in these programs are automatically referred to child support.)
  
• do not have to pay the application fee if they are referred to the Child Support program by the BadgerCare Plus program
  
• ask the child support agency to stop providing services in their case if they no longer take part in the W-2, BadgerCare Plus, SSI Caretaker Supplement, or Kinship Care programs. Parents should put this request in writing.
  
• file a written complaint and have their case reviewed if they believe that the local agency has delayed mandatory actions or has not taken mandatory actions on their case (All child support agencies have a complaint procedure posted in their agencies.)

Both parents in cases receiving services from their child support agency have the right to:

• receive help in establishing legal fatherhood (paternity)
  
• ask their child support agency for “privacy protection” if the release of their address, telephone number, employer, or other location information would put them or their children at risk
  
• ask for a review of an existing order

Parents’ Civil Rights

The following civil rights laws protect parents from discrimination in the delivery of child support services:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

The Wisconsin Child Support program does not discriminate when providing services or employment on the basis of age, race, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, arrest/conviction record, use of lawful products, military status, disability, or political affiliation.

Parents have a right to free language assistance. If need, interpreters are provided without charge. Parents who need materials or information in another language, in an alternate format, or need help in using child support services, should contact:

• their county or tribal child support agency
  
  
• If the local agency cannot help, parents may call:
  (608) 266-9909
  (800) 947-3529 TTY (toll free)

If parents have questions about discrimination and harassment, they may:

• ask to speak to their caseworker’s supervisor or the agency’s equal opportunity coordinator to try to resolve their concerns
  
• contact the Wisconsin Child Support program at: (608) 266-9909 or (800) 947-3529 TTY (toll free)

Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action.

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