Using the Court System to Enforce Child Support: A Step-by-Step Overview

For custodial parents who want to enforce child support through the courts rather than — or in addition to — DCSS, understanding the court process from start to finish is essential.

The Court Enforcement Sequence

1. Calculate arrears and prepare documentation. 2. File Request for Order (FL-300) with supporting Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150). 3. Serve the paying parent. 4. Attend the hearing — bring organized documentation. 5. If contempt is sought, meet the burden of proof (ability to pay and willful failure). 6. Enforce any judgment obtained through writs, levies, or liens.

Preparation determines outcomes. Custodial parents who arrive at hearings with organized documentation — a ledger of payments and arrears, the existing order, financial records supporting the paying parent’s ability to pay — consistently achieve better results than those who appear without preparation.

The California Child Support Recovery System gives custodial parents the exact tools and templates to enforce support orders, calculate arrears, and use every enforcement mechanism available. Request your free evaluation here.