Serve your Answer to child support case

Once you've filed your Answer, you must have someone (not you) deliver a copy to the Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) and the child's other parent. The court calls this service or serving papers.   

How to serve your Answer

  • Choose a server

    You can't serve papers yourself. Ask another adult – a server – to mail or hand-deliver the papers.   

    Your server must be: 

    • 18 or over, and 

    • Not part of your case 

    Your server can be someone you know or a professional process server you hire. 

  • Have your server deliver the Answer

    Your server mails or hand-delivers these papers to the LCSA and the child's other parent:

    • A copy of your Answer
    • A copy of your Income and Expense Declaration (form FL-150), if you filed one
    • Any other papers you filed 

    Tell your server to note the date they mailed or handed the papers. Your server needs this date to fill out the Proof of Service form.

    If the server mails the papers, use regular first class mail. 

    Don't use certified mail. This requires getting the other person's signature which is sometimes hard to do.
     
  • Have your server complete the Proof of Service form

    Your server must fill out two proofs of service. One for the LCSA and another for the other parent.  

    • If they mailed the forms, they can use Proof of Service by Mail (form FL-335).
    • If they handed deliver the forms, they can use Proof of Personal Service (form FL-330)

    It helps if you fill in the top part of the forms with the case and court information. Your server can then fill in the rest of the information. Your server must sign and date the forms.

  • Copy and file the Proof of Service form

    • Make a copy of your Proof of Service forms.
    • File the originals and copies with the court where you filed the papers. The court will stamp and return the copies.
    • Keep the copies of the Proof of Service forms for your records.

Once the LCSA gets your Answer, the LCSA will likely reach out to you or file papers asking for a court date. If they do, they must send you a copy of the papers with the court date. Keep your address up to date and do not ignore any papers you get from the LCSA.

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