The court can take a variety of actions to enforce a child support order. This means that the OAG does not offer the same kind of support that a private attorney can offer. The OAG represents the interests of the State of Texas, which include securing child support from non-paying parents. Remember that the OAG does not represent either parent in an enforcement action. So, if the non-paying parent is violating other portions of the court order, it may be beneficial to pursue a private action so that you can address every violation. This means that the OAG cannot help you enforce other provisions of a court order (such as visitation, property division, etc.).
If you bring a private enforcement action, it’s possible that you’ll be able to resolve the case more quickly.Īdditionally, the OAG can only assist with child support enforcement. The longer a case takes, the more difficult it can be to collect back child support. However, because the OAG’s child support division handles an extremely large caseload, there can be long wait times. It is almost always best to enforce a child support order through the OAG.
How should I prepare if I want to pursue my own enforcement action? What if my child support order is from another state?Ĭan I collect unpaid medical and dental support in a child enforcement action?
What can the OAG do that a private attorney (or pro se litigant) cannot?Ĭan I prevent the non-paying parent from seeing the child while the enforcement action is pending? If I hire an attorney, will the court order the nonpaying parent to pay my attorney’s fees? Will the nonpaying parent have a court-appointed attorney at the enforcement hearing?ĭo I need to hire an attorney to file a child support enforcement action for me? What if the nonpaying parent fails to comply with the terms of their community supervision?Ĭan the nonpaying parent go to jail if they lose an enforcement action? What relief can I get if I file an enforcement petition on my own?
What are the advantages of filing an enforcement case on my own? Can I enforce child support on my own, without going through the Office of Attorney General (OAG)?