Parentage, Support, Custody, Visitation

Parentage

A parentage action may be commenced by a child, a person claiming to be the parent of a child, their representatives, or the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA). The court determines who is the true and natural parent of the child in question. That determination is usually made by the use of DNA testing of the parents and child. After the determination is made, the court issues an order for child support, which requires payment to be made through the CSEA for the benefit of the child. Parentage may also be determined by an administrative hearing by the CSEA. That determination may then be registered with, and enforced by, the juvenile court.

Child Support

Once parentage has been established, the issues of the amount of child support to be paid or modifications of support are determined by the juvenile court of the county where the child resides. In legal language, "Obligee" is the person who receives child support. "Obligor" is the person who owes the child support.

Custody

In situations where the parents of a child were never married, the issue of custody is determined by the juvenile court of the county where the child resides. Motions to modify custody are filed in juvenile court. Grandparents who wish to intervene (which means to become involved in the case) may file motions to intervene in the juvenile court case.

Visitation

When both parents of a child are established, but the parents were never married to each other and the parents maintain separate residences, the issue of visitation (parenting time) and modifications of visitation schedules are determined by the juvenile court of the county where the child resides.