Application for Child Support – The application for support is the first form that must be completed by you and provided to the courts if you are trying to get child support. You can only apply for child support if you are the custodial parent or guardian. In other words, the child must live with you and the other parent is absent from the home.

Agreement for Child Support – The agreement for support is a form used when the parties have agreed upon the exact amount of support that will be paid. This form can be used for parties who do not wish to pay through the court system as well as parents who agree on an amount and would like to take this form to court and have it registered as an agreed upon order.

If you do not want to register an agreement with the courts, then you can notarize the agreement and payments are to be made outside of the courts and directly to the custodial parent. The courts are not involved.

If you want to register this agreement with the courts, you will probably have to go through the application process with the courts, both parties will have to appear in court and present the agreement. The payments will be sent to the courts and then to the custodial parent.

Uniform Interstate Federal Support Act (UIFSA) Complaint/Petition for Child Support –This petition is used when the custodial and absent parent live in different states. The custodial parent’s child support office will request that this petition is filled out and it is then forwarded to the state agency where the absent parent lives. Having this form in advance prepares you for the information that is required.

Enforcement Request Letter to the Court - This formal letter to the courts           assist the custodial parent in requesting enforcement action in a matter where the    child support is not being paid according to the order entered by a judge. You are requesting the courts to schedule an enforcement conference to determine why payments have not been made.

Petition for Contempt of the Child Support Order – This formal petition requests that the court issue a notice of contempt of non-payment for child support to the absent parent who has not paid according to the order. A contempt petition is usually filed after an enforcement conference and payments have still not been made according to the order. You are requesting that a judge hear this matter.

Petition for Credit of Arrears – The petition for credit of child support arrears is used in instances where the absent parent, or payor seeks credit to reduce their child support arrears. Petition for child support arrears are filed in instances where the payor paid support directly to the custodial parent, and outside of the courts and wants credit to their account. Another reason for credit would be an overpayment to the account for various reasons or the payor does not believe that the amount of arrears are owed.

Petition to Modify the Child Support Order – The absent parent or the custodial parent may file this petition with the court if circumstances have changed which would cause a change in the current child support order. Examples of changes include higher childcare expenses, changes in medical coverage, loss of a job, decrease or increase in income. Once the petition is filed the child support order can go up, down or stay the same.

Petition to Increase the Child Support Order – The petition to increase the child support order is typically filed when a party feels there is a need to increase the current child support order based on a change in circumstance such as new employment, pay raise, etc. It is different from the petition to modify in that you are asking that the order is increased only.

Petition to Decrease the Child Support Order – The petition to decrease the child support order is typically filed by the absent parent when he/she feels that they are unable to pay the current child support due to circumstances that are stated in the petition. Examples of reasons to file this petition may be loss of income, pay decrease, etc.

Petition to Suspend the Child Support Order – The petition to suspend the child support order is filed to request a temporary suspension of child support payments. In some instances the parties may agree to have the order suspended or put on hold. Some reasons for this petition may include an agreement outside of the courts for a trial period, a temporary loss of income, a child changes residence from the custodial parents, etc. The current order can be reinstated at any time without applying for support and beginning the process all over again.

Petition to Vacate the Child Support Order – The petition to vacate the child support order is filed when a party seeks to take the case out of court and close the matter completely. Examples of when a petition to vacate will be filed includes the child(ren) reaching majority age or finishing high school or college (check your state requirements), or the parties agree to take the case out of court. If the parties want to reinstate the order they must apply for support and begin the process all over again.