Start a case for child custody and support
The process for requesting child custody and support
If you and your child's other parent are the legal parent of a child, you can start a court case to get child custody, visitation (parenting time), and support orders. If you need a judge to make temporary orders, you can file papers to ask for a court date where a judge can make orders regarding the custody and support of your child.
Select any step to get instructions and forms
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1. Start your custody and support case
You file papers to start the case. If you need a judge to make any decisions, you can file more papers to ask for a court date.
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2. Let other parent know
You must officially let the other parent know about the court case by have copies of the filed papers delivered to them (called serving court papers).
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3. Finish your case
You and the other parent can either agree about custody and support, or you can have a judge decide at a court date. If you need a judge to decide custody, you will need to go to mediation.