Speak Up! - View Question #113

« LawForKids.org home page | « Go back to speak up question #113

Question: My dad does not pay his child support. When I turn 18, can I sue him for the support he owes?

Answer:

Child Support is an award by the court to your mother. Only she can enforce it. If she is not receiving regular child support payments, she should get in touch with the local child support organization of the state in which you live. You can get the information for her, but she must be the party who brings the suit.

 

In Arizona you should call or write to Department of Economic Security, Division of Child Support Enforcement, in Phoenix at (602) 252-4045. There may be a local number in your local telephone book. This organization will file suit to see that the support and the arrears (overdue amount) are paid, and may tell you how to get in touch with the enforcement organization in another state if the parent who is not paying doesn't live in Arizona. In another state, call your local governmental information phone number, or even your state bar association information number.


Comments
6 thru 10 of 24 comments
On 01/11/07
C B from IN said:
Actually the ansewr to this question isn't exactley true everywhere. I have seen Children sue the dad for not paying child support. The child must be 18 years of age or older and can only sue for the amount owed by the dad. It wors the same as it would for the mother.
On 05/24/06
yolanda from GA said:
I have never received any money from the father of my child.where to start to try to get back support>
On 04/18/06
Misty from PA said:
Im now 22, and my dad paid child support for not even a year. ANd he left my mom when she was only 4 months pregnant with me. Its been estimated that he owes a lot of money. He never called or sent me a lousy birthday card. For years we lived in the same place. I just wish i could sue him for the back support, cause i need it to afford college.
On 04/10/06
Sheila from GA said:
I recently turned 18 and was suppossed to get child support until i was 18 but ny father didn't pay it, my guardian doesn't want ot have to go through the "hassle" of getting it is there anyway that i can sue for the money that is rightfully mine?My guardian kicked me out when i was 16 and i moved in with my grandmother but during that time i didn't recieve anything. Is there anything that I can do or is it useless?
On 04/03/06
Jennifer from TX said:
I'm 18 and for the past 18 years my father has been paying my mother my child support directly to her. She has always been very trusting and for about 4 years he stopped paying like he should. now he only pays 200 per month in peddy cash. he has never paid for my braces or doctors visits for when i was ill. shouldnt that all be seperate from the child support? because what he sends barely covers costs. and now that i am 18 and about to graduate, can he get out of paying my mother back what he owes? or do we still have rights to that money?
6 thru 10 of 24 comments



Read more about the law and Family
Related Stories
Related Laws
« LawForKids.org home page | « Go back to speak up question #113