Ability to Offset Past-Due Child Support against Tax Refunds

Where an arrearage of child support has been determined, a child support enforcement agency may intercept the tax refund of the delinquent parent.

Putative Father's Right to Visitation

Parents have a natural right to the companionship of their children. In order to experience that companionship, parents and children must have time to be together. This is generally a non-legal issue. When the child's parents are not married, the child's father is called the putative father because he is reputed to be the father of the child. A putative father may also be known as the child's natural father or biological father. To be the child's legal father, the putative father must prove his paternity before a court. The proof could be a paternity test result or acknowledgment of the child as required by statute. Once paternity is acknowledged the father has a right to visitation with his child, so long as it is in the child's best interests.

Dispute Resolution for Child Support Awards

All states have child support guidelines that enable a court to calculate basic child support. While use of the guidelines is required, they do not cover children after age 18 or graduation from high school nor do they cover some of the extras that children want and need. At times, using a mediator may help parents work through the financial conflicts.

Medical, Psychological and Social Evaluations for Child Custody Awards

Prior to making a determination of custody of a child, the court may order a medical, psychological, or social evaluation of the child or the parents, or all of them. As part of the evaluation, the court may request that the doctor, psychologist, or other professional expert give a report and make a recommendation as to custody and visitation.

Tortious Interference with Child Custody

Where a person interferes with another person's custody of a child or right to access, the interfering person may be subject to a claim of tortious interference with custody and can be held financially liable. This may occur where one parent takes the child and refuses to divulge the child's whereabouts. However, tortious interference may not be limited to cases where a child is concealed.