Friend of the Court: Support & Paternity Establishment

Parents may request support or paternity establishment through the Friend of the Court office or through the Department of Human Services. The process starts by completing a Child Support Services Application (PDF - 252 KB) . The form is also available at the Friend of the Court office. Once the application is approved by the DHS child support specialist, the request is sent to the Friend of the Court. Our support investigator will open a case and schedule an appointment with the custodial parent to complete the necessary paperwork. If appropriate, a Circuit Court file will be opened and a Complaint served on the non-custodial parent.

The time from opening a case until a child support order is entered may be anywhere from two to nine months, depending on the cooperation of the parties and the complexity of the case. Once the order enters, the Friend of the Court provides support enforcement services as detailed on this website.

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