Ask for or change child support
If you have a LCSA child support case (a government child support case), you can ask for child support or to change child support by filing a request.
Before you start
Gather information about your finances
When you ask for child support, you will need to share information about your financial situation. You will need proof of your income for the last two months.
Find out how support is calculated
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Learn about child support
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Use a free online child support calculator
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Go to the family law facilitator in your county ↗️. They can explain and help you calculate the amount the court would likely order.
How to ask for a child support order
↗️ All links to court forms below open in a new tab.
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Fill out Request for Order form
Request for Order (form FL-300)
Use this form to tell the court:
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What you want it to order
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Why it should order what you're asking for
For child support, use item 3 on page 3, and “Facts to Support” (item 9 on page 4).
Item 9, “Facts to Support,” on Page 4 asks you to explain why the court should order what you requested. Write down the facts, not just opinions, that support what you’re telling the court.
For example, tell the court if things have changed since the last order for support. For example, you lost your job, are making less money, or are spending more time with the children.
If there is a document that supports what you say (like a letter from your job), attach that to your request. Blackout any private information like a Social Security number or account number.
If you need more space, check the box that says, “Attachment 9.” You can use Attached Declaration (form MC-031).
The Petitioner is the person who started the family law case initially. For example, if you are filing this Request for Order but the other parent was the one who started the case at the very beginning, you are the Respondent.
If the LCSA started the case, they'll be the Petitioner. If they opened the case against you, you are the Respondent and your child's other parent is the "Other Parent/Party" (or vice versa, if they opened the case against the other parent). -
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Fill out the Income and Expense Declaration
Income and Expense Declaration (form FL-150)
- This form asks how much money you earn and how you spend your money.
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Attach proof of your income (like paystubs) from the past two months to the form.
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Do not attach a copy of your last year’s taxes. Bring a copy (if you have one) to the hearing.
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Attach documents to support your case
Sometimes it's important to have documents that support your case. If you have any, you can attach copies or file these with your request so the judge can consider them at the hearing.
- Documents can include things like a receipt, a bill, or a letter from your employer
- Black out any private information like a Social Security number or account numbers
- If there is a witness (someone who saw or personally knows something), you can ask them to write and sign a statement that says what they know. Learn more about witness statements.
If you don't have these ready now, you can file them later.
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Make copies of your forms
After you’ve filled out, signed, and dated both forms, make 3 copies of the forms.
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File your forms
To file your forms with the court:
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Give the original and the 3 copies to the court clerk
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💵 There is no fee to ask to change child support in an LCSA case.
There is no fee to ask to change support in your LCSA case. There is a fee, at least $60.00, if you are asking for something else. If you can't afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver ↗️.The clerk will:
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Stamp the forms
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Write a hearing date on the Request for Order form
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Keep the original form and return the copies to you
A judge will make a decision about your request at the hearing.
Yes, you can file by mail. Mail your original and 3 copies to the clerk. You need to include the filing fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can mail your copies back to you. If you do not include a self-addressed, stamped envelope you will have to go to the courthouse to pick up your copies.
Some courts allow online filing (called e-file). You can find out if your court has online filing by visiting your court’s website ↗️.
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Ask for an interpreter or accomodation (if needed)
🌐 How to ask for an interpreter
If you don't speak or understand English very well, you can ask for a court interpreter for your court date.
- Ask as soon as you find out your court date
- The court will provide an interpreter free of charge
Fill out and turn in a Request for Interpreter (Civil) (form INT-300). Some courts may have other ways to ask for an interpreter (like online). Contact your court ↗️ to see the ways you can ask for an interpreter.
♿ How to ask for an accommodation for a disability
To ask for an accommodation, fill out a Disability Accommodation Request (form MC-410). Turn the form in to your court's ADA coordinator ↗️ at least 5 days before your court date.
Ask for child support
What's next?
Once you’ve filed the forms, the next step is to have someone, not you, deliver a copy to the LCSA (called serve).
📌 If you do this at least 30 days before your court date, the LCSA will serve the other parent for you.
Before or after you have someone serve the papers, you can find out what to expect on your court date so you're prepared.