Child Support

You can get a child support order by filing in superior court.¹ If you are married to the child’s other parent, you can ask for child support in a divorce, legal separation, maintenance, or child support case. If you are not married to the other parent, you can file a petition to get (establish) child support.²

Note: Unwed parents must establish legal parenthood (paternity) before the judge can order child support.

Another way to get child support is to apply for child support services with the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). They can help you establish a child support order. They can also help you do the following:

• find the other parent;
• establish paternity;
• collect court-ordered child, medical, and spousal support; and
• change (modify) your support order.³

Note: If you get cash assistance for your child, DES can start a child support case against the other parent.⁴ However, the government would keep some or all of the child support payments in order to pay back the public benefits that you are receiving for your child.⁵ You may fear starting a child support case against the abuser will put you or your child at risk of physical or emotional harm. If so, ask your DES Family Assistance caseworker for a “Good Cause” exception.⁶

¹ A.R.S. § 25-502(A)
² A.R.S. § 25-320(A)
³ Arizona Child Support Guidelines at A.R.S. § 25-320(XIII)(A)
⁴ See A.R.S. § 46-407
⁵ Arizona Child Support Guidelines at A.R.S. § 25-320(XIII)(B)
⁶ See DES Claim of Good Cause form