Child support is a crucial financial responsibility that parents have towards their children. In Utah, as in many other states, both parents are expected to provide financial support for their child, regardless of their marital status.
If you were never married to your child’s other parent and need to obtain child support, the process may seem daunting. However, with the right guidance and knowledge, you can obtain the financial support your child deserves. We will discuss the steps you need to take to obtain child support in Utah if you were never married.
We also have do it yourself paperwork and guides with our Whip Kits to help start the process to get paternity established and have a Utah court award child support for you.
- Establish paternity: If you were not married to your child’s other parent, you need to establish paternity before you can request child support. Paternity establishes the legal father of a child. Once paternity is established, the father can be held responsible for child support. There are several ways to establish paternity in Utah. These include:
- Voluntary Declaration of Paternity: This is a form that both parents can sign at the hospital or later at a child support office. Once signed, it establishes legal paternity.
- Court Order: If the father contests paternity, a court order may be necessary to establish paternity. This may involve genetic testing. This requires filing a court action that starts with a petition for paternity which we can assist with our Utah Whip Kit paternity paperwork.
- File a child support order: Once paternity is established, you can file for child support. You can do this through the Utah Office of Recovery Services (ORS), which is responsible for collecting and distributing child support payments. You will need to provide information about both parents and your child, such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers.
- Attend a child support hearing: After you file for child support, you will be notified of a hearing date. At the hearing, you will need to provide evidence of your income, the other parent’s income, and your child’s needs. You may also need to provide evidence of paternity, such as a DNA test.
- Receive the child support order: After the hearing, the judge will issue a child support order, which outlines the amount of child support the other parent is required to pay. The ORS will then begin collecting payments from the other parent.
- Enforce the child support order: If the other parent fails to make child support payments, you can take legal action to enforce the order. The ORS can help with this process by withholding the other parent’s wages or tax refunds, or by filing a contempt of court action.
In conclusion, obtaining child support in Utah if you were never married requires establishing paternity, filing for a child support order, attending a hearing, receiving the child support order, and enforcing it if necessary. It may seem like a lot of work, but it is essential to ensure that your child has the financial support they need. Our Utah Whip Kits can help you start and guide you through the process. If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact the Utah Office of Recovery Services or a family law attorney.
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