A grandparent or relative is caring for a child

More family matters situations

• I need a copy of an old family order Obtain the order from the court that issued it; a screenshot or recollection may omit important terms.
• Child protective services contacted my family An agency investigation and a court case are related but distinct. Treat court papers and proposed safety plans seriously.
• I need temporary support while a divorce is pending You may be able to request temporary financial relief in the pending case.
• My child turned 18; can I stop paying support? There is no single support-ending age for NJ, NY, and DC. The order, local law, disability, education, and other circumstances matter.
• One parent lives in another state Interstate support rules can allow cooperation between agencies, but the authority to change an existing order needs separate review.
• I cannot afford a lawyer or court filing fees Fee waivers and legal assistance may be available, but they are separate applications and eligibility is not guaranteed.
• The other parent is not paying ordered support Use the support-enforcement process; do not try to collect by withholding parenting time.
• I need to establish who the child’s legal parents are Biological connection and legal parentage are related but not interchangeable. A marriage presumption, acknowledgment, adoption, assisted-reproduction law, or court order may matter.

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