| The child support enforcement office is able to | | | | support. We label these people as dead beat |
| assist custodial parents in locating a non-custodial | | | | parents. In the state of Mississippi, there are |
| parent, enforcing child support, establish paternity, | | | | methods to collecting unpaid child support. Theses |
| and any other assistance the custodial parents | | | | methods include income withholding, tax offset |
| may need. | | | | interception, unemployment compensation |
| When applying for Mississippi child support | | | | interception, contempt actions, etc. These action |
| services, the first step you need to take is to call | | | | were created for the purpose to enforce child |
| or visit your local county child support office. | | | | support payments. |
| Custodial parents who are on programs such as | | | | Establishing Paternity |
| TANF or any other state or federal assistance will | | | | If a child is born out of wedlock, the custodial |
| be referred to a child support office for services. | | | | parents must first establish paternity in order for |
| Parents who are not on these programs can | | | | the courts to establish a child support order. By |
| apply for child support services through their local | | | | establishing paternity, the child will know who his |
| county office. A one-time application fee of | | | | or her parents and their medical history. Paternity |
| $25.00 will be charged for parents who are not | | | | can be established when both parents sign an |
| receiving federal or state assistance. | | | | acknowledgement of paternity form and return it |
| When determining the amount of child support | | | | to a hospital staff member when the child is born. |
| that will be paid, the laws will go by the child | | | | There will not be a fee for this method. Another |
| support guidelines. These guidelines will determine | | | | method to establish paternity, is to have a genetic |
| the amount of child support by calculating a | | | | test performed on the other parent to see if he |
| percentage of the non-custodial parent's gross | | | | is the father of the child/children. Establishing |
| income. This percentages is also calculated by the | | | | paternity is very important when applying for child |
| number of children, and the needs of the children. | | | | support. It is also important to locate and make |
| Mississippi Child Support Enforcement | | | | sure you have proof that the alleged father is the |
| Some parents fall behind or just will not pay child | | | | real father of you child/children. |