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  The Court Process

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For new child or medical support orders, CSSD will get a court order. We may also ask the court to modify existing orders, either to increase or decrease child support, to ensure that the amount of support is accurate. The flowchart below shows how the court process works.


The courts use guidelines established by state law to set the amount of child support which is presumed to be correct. The guidelines take into account how much money each parent earns and the amount of time each cares for the child, in addition to other factors.

Note: The non-custodial parent must fill out and file the Answer with the court within 30 days after receiving a Summons and Complaint. A parent served with a Summons and Complaint should call or visit the county Child Support Services Department or Family Law Facilitator about the case. Depending on the issues involved, it may be possible to resolve the case without having to go to court. See Contact Us for address and phone numbers.