Experts say that unpaid child support is a prime reason that more than one in five American children live in poverty. According to an Urban Institute study, children in single-parent families would get $34 billion if all child-support obligations were met.

Parents have the legal right to request the assistance of the State in establishing and enforcing child support payment orders. Private lawyers and companies also provide these services, but at times for exorbitant rates and application fees with uncertain results. Before turning to private sources, parents should be aware of the alternatives.

For a modest application fee of $25, which could be waived if necessary requirements are met, Connecticut, as mandated by federal law, will make the same child support services available to non-public assistance applicants as are provided to welfare mothers.

The Family Support Magistrate Division of the Superior Court handles child and spousal support matters in cases involving people receiving Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) or foster care under Social Security. They also decide cases involving those who have applied to the Department of Social Services for child support enforcement services. These three categories are classified as IV-D cases because the procedures are governed by Title IV-D of the federal Social Security Act.

The Attorney General's Office, the Bureau of Child Support Enforcement and the Support Enforcement Division (Superior Court) participate in actions concerning establishing, enforcing, or modifying support orders when a party is receiving IV-D support enforcement services. My office also represents people from other states who do not have their own attorney and are seeking support from a Connecticut parent under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (URESA), which allows enforcement of support obligations when the parties live in different states.

Family support magistrate support orders have the same force and effect as support orders of the Superior Court. Since the State is required to assist in this often lengthy process, services that are offered include, but are not limited to, necessary contempt proceedings, the placement of liens on real and personal property, the interception of state and federal income tax returns, the certification of the names of delinquent obligors to credit reporting agencies, the suspension of automobile operator and occupational licenses, a sophisticated (automated) absent parent locate system, the modification of existing orders and necessary legal services.

If you are in need of child support services, particularly families that cannot afford lawyers and private companies, Connecticut offers effective and comprehensive services. By utilizing the state's services, you do not run the risk of a private company going bankrupt before your case begins in court but after having collected a steep application fee. You also know that a percentage of what money you do receive will not be taken as payment, unlike private companies or attorneys. In many cases, those fees are paid regardless of whether support is granted.

There may be times, however, where an informed parent may deem it advisable to pursue private remedies. In such situations, the availability of an aggressive and competent private collector could prove beneficial.

Connecticut's responsibilities are to protect its' citizens. While private attorneys or companies may do an effective job of obtaining support, the State provides the same services for considerably lower costs.

If you would like further information regarding child support, please contact your local Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (Department of Social Services) office; or, write me, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal at 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106. Remember, you have rights too.