History of Child Support & Legal Authorities

• Related Links

Necessary Party Process

OCSS is a necessary party in any court case involving custody and child support issues where the family is receiving TANF benefits, where either parent is receiving a child care subsidy, or when the child(ren) is receiving SoonerCare benefits.

OCSS is also a party whenever a party opens a case with us. When OCSS is a necessary party, we must approve all temporary and final orders prior to their entry by the court. OCSS provides several resources to make this process simpler for the courts, for private attorneys, and for OCSS.

• Necessary Party Authority: 43 O.S. § 112  (Link opens in new window)
• Working with OCSS As A Partner  (.pdf, 8 pp, 72 KB)
• OCSS Offices by Location

Necessary Party Forms

• Standard Child Support Order 03ES010E  (.pdf, 13 pp, 406 KB)
  
  

Child Support Guidelines

• Child Support Guidelines Calculator
• Understanding the New Child Support Guidelines (.pdf, 20 pp, 136 KB)
  
  

Paternity Issues

• Uniform Parentage Act:  10 O.S. § 7700-101 et seq (Link opens in new window)
• Model Uniform Parentage Act 2000 (Link opens in new window) 
• Uniform Parentage Act Overview & Case Law Update (.pdf, 34 pp, 206 KB)
• UPA Cheatsheet  (.pdf, 4 pp, 28 KB)
• OCSS Policy on Paternity and Challenges
  • 340:25-5-176
  • 340:25-5-176.1
• Acknowledgment of Paternity forms
• Flowcharts 
  • Challenging the Acknowledgment of Paternity (.pdf, 1 pp, 449 KB)
  • Challenging a Presumption of Paternity (.pdf, 1 pp, 947 KB)
    
    

Child Support Contempt

• 21 O.S. § 566    
• 21 O.S. § 566.1   
• 21 O.S. § 567 
• District Court Rule 8.3
• Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions
  
  

Pro Se Materials

Many OCSS customers lack resources necessary to obtain representation on their legal issues. OCSS is committed to the rights of all parties to have access to the courts. OCSS has developed several packets that pro se customers can use to get their cases before the courts. These forms are easy to use and include instructions for completion.

Pro Se Forms

• Motion to Modify Child Support in District Court - Instructions and Forms (Form 03EN017E) (.pdf, 28 pp, 608 KB)
• Motion to Modify Child Support in Administrative Court - Instructions and Forms (03RA010E) (.pdf, 14 pp, 236 KB)
  
  

Legal Outreach and CLE

OCSS encourages and supports members of the private bar who wish to provide legal services to OCSS customers. OCSS conducts legal outreach seminars each year.

For information regarding OCSS' legal outreach/pro bono program, contact Amy Page.

Working with OAH

The Office of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over child support matters when OCSS has a case open for services. OAH decisions are final orders of the court and are appealed to district court. OAH is a court of record and prepares records for cases on appeal.

Contact OAH for court filing or for a record on appeal.

• OAH Policy: 340:2-28-1 et seq.
• Appealing OAH Decisions (.pdf, 14 pp, 123 KB)
  
  

Child Support Resources Nationwide

OCSS collaborates with a variety of partners to help formulate and implement nationwide policies on child support issues. The following links are to partners outside of OCSS.

• Child Support and the Court  (Link opens in new window)
• Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) (Link opens in new window)