Respond to the Department of Child Support Services
If you received the FL-600 Summons and Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligations from the Department of Child Support Services, click here.
If you received the FL-680 Notice of Motion from the Department of Child Support Services, click here.
Child Support Cases Opened with the Department of Child Support Services
This video will introduce you to the different people and agencies who may be involved in your case, and what you can expect from the court process. The video will also explain the documents that you received from the Department of Child Support Services, how child support is calculated, and how you can provide important information about your income and expenses to the court and the Department of Child Support Services.
Guideline Child Support Calculation
Be prepared for what the amount of child support might be. Before you file your documents, the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator can help you calculate the amount of child support, or you may use the guideline calculator on the Department of Child Support Services website to calculate the child support amount on your own. The video below provides some guidance on how to use the calculator program.
Respond to FL-600 Summons and Complaint of Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligations
If you have been served with an FL-600 Summons and Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligations, filed by the Department of Child Support Services, you must respond within 30 days from the date you received the documents. Review the documents carefully. The Department of Child Support Services may be asking the Court to establish paternity of the children, as well as a child support order. Generally, you can admit or deny that you are the parent of the children. If you question paternity, then you can ask for genetic testing.
If you do not respond within 30 days, the court may establish you as the legal parent without a genetic test (if parentage has not been established yet) and can order child support without your input. Once a court establishes you as a legal parent, it is very hard to undo that later, even with DNA tests showing you are not the biological parent. You can ask the Department of Child Support Services to arrange genetic testing at no cost to either parent. If the Department of Child Support Services does not agree to genetic testing, you can request the court to order the testing in your FL-610 Answer to Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligations.
If you agree that you are the child’s parent, you need to respond so you can provide information about your income to calculate child support. If you do not respond, the court may make orders about child support of your children based on the Department of Child Support Services or the other parent’s estimate of your income and without taking into account your individual situation.
Do It Yourself
This free online form preparation program will ask you questions and use your answers to complete the forms needed to respond to the FL-600 Summons and Complaint from the Department of Child Support Services. This program will also allow you to print, download, and email all of the completed forms.
Do It Yourself - Answer to Governmental Child Support Summons Complaint
If you would like the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator's Office to review your forms before you file, then do not make copies until after your documents have been reviewed.
Forms Needed
You must complete the following forms to respond to the FL-600 Summons and Complaint and provide information about your income and expenses.
Click on each form to complete, save and print.
- FL-610 Answer to Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligation
- FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration
Generally, there is no filing fee for these documents.
Instructions and Sample Forms
Below are instructions and sample forms so that you can see what the forms may look like when completed. The samples are for general information only; they are not intended to resolve the specific issues in your case.
Overview of the Process
Complete Forms:
Complete the forms listed above.
Make Copies:
Once the necessary forms are completed, make three copies: one for you, one for the other parent, and one for the Department of Child Support Services. The originals are for the Court to keep.
If you would like the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’s Office to review your forms before you file, then do not make copies until after your documents have been reviewed.
Deliver Papers:
A copy of the documents must be delivered to the Department of Child Support Services. You can serve the Department by email at css_serving@co.slo.ca.us. You will then need to complete form POS-050 Proof of Electronic Service. Make a copy of this proof of service for your records.
You must also have a copy of all of the completed documents delivered to the other parent’s attorney, or to the other parent if they do not have an attorney.
You must select a person who is 18 years of age or older to mail or personally deliver a copy of the papers to the other parent or their attorney. You cannot be the one to deliver the documents. The person you choose to mail or deliver the papers can be a friend or relative, a private process server, or the Sheriff’s Department.
Complete Proof of Service:
The person who mails or delivers the documents to the other parent or their attorney must complete and sign the Proof of Service section of the original FL-610 Answer to Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligation. If the server delivers the documents in person, they must complete item 6a for Personal Delivery. If the server mails the documents, they must complete item 6b for Mail.
File Completed Forms and Proof of Service:
You need to file the FL-610 Answer to Complaint or Supplemental Complaint Regarding Parental Obligation, FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration, and POS-050 Proof of Electronic Service with the Court.
You have the following options to file your forms:
If you use the mail, drop box, or in person option to file, you must also include a self-addressed stamped envelope so that the Court can mail you a copy after the originals are filed.
If you electronically file your forms, you will also need to file an Electronic Consent Form. The Court will email you a copy of the filed documents.
Once the Department of Child Support Services receives your Answer, a hearing will likely be scheduled. You will receive a copy of the papers with the court date.
If You Asked for Paternity Testing:
Your local Department of Child Support Services caseworker will probably set up genetic (DNA) testing for you, the child, and the other parent.
Procedures vary from county to county, but in general, you will be scheduled to provide a DNA sample. The child and other parent will also be asked for DNA samples. Talk to your caseworker to make sure you know the procedure in your county. If your local Department of Child Support Services does not set up genetic testing for you and you have filed an Answer that says you are not the parent, you may ask the court for genetic testing when a hearing is set.
After the Paternity Test Results:
If the DNA test says that there is a very high probability that the man tested is the child’s father, he has the option of agreeing to paternity by a stipulation or asking for a trial on the issue of paternity.
If the DNA tests say there is a zero probability that the man tested is the child’s father, the case against that man will most likely be dismissed, or the court may actually make a finding and order that he is not the parent.
If You Admit You Are the Father:
The local Department of Child Support Services caseworker will either request a court hearing for a child support order or will contact you to see if you can work out an agreement. However, if you have not filed an Answer in this case, the local Department of Child Support Services caseworker may enter an order on the child support issue without any input from you.
Respond to FL-680 Notice of Motion
If you have been served with an FL-680 Notice of Motion, filed by the Department of Child Support Services, you can respond by using form FL-685 Response to Governmental Notice of Motion or Order to Show Cause.
If box 3b is checked on the first page of the FL-680 Notice of Motion, you will also need to complete form FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration so you can provide information about your income to calculate child support.
If you do not respond, the court may make orders about child support based on the Department of Child Support Services or the other parent’s estimate of your income and without taking into account your individual situation.
Forms Needed
You must complete the following forms to respond to the FL-680 Notice of Motion and provide information about your income and expenses.
Click on each form to complete, save and print.
- FL-685 Response to Governmental Notice of Motion or Order to Show Cause
- FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration
Generally, there is no filing fee for these documents.
Instructions and Sample Forms
Below are instructions and sample forms so that you can see what the forms may look like when completed. The samples are for general information only; they are not intended to resolve the specific issues in your case.
Overview of the Process
Complete Forms:
Complete the forms listed above.
Make Copies:
Once the necessary forms are completed, make three copies: one for you, one for the other parent, and one for the Department of Child Support Services. The originals are for the Court to keep.
If you would like the Self-Help Center / Family Law Facilitator’s Office to review your forms before you file, then do not make copies until after your documents have been reviewed.
File Completed Forms with the Court:
You need to file the FL-685 Response to Governmental Notice of Motion or Order to Show Cause and FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration with the Court.
You have the following options to file your forms:
If you use the mail, drop box, or in person option to file, you must also include a self-addressed stamped envelope so that the Court can mail you a copy after the originals are filed.
If you electronically file your forms, you will also need to file an Electronic Consent Form. The Court will email you a copy of the filed documents.
Deliver Papers:
A copy of the filed documents must be delivered to the Department of Child Support Services. You can serve the Department by email at css_serving@co.slo.ca.us. You will then need to complete form POS-050 Proof of Electronic Service. Make a copy of this proof of service for your records.
You must also have a copy of all of the completed documents delivered to the other parent’s attorney, or to the other parent if they do not have an attorney. The documents must be delivered at least 9 court days before the hearing date listed in item 2 of the FL-680 Notice of Motion. Court days do not include weekends or holidays.
You must select a person who is 18 years of age or older to mail or personally deliver a copy of the papers to the other parent or their attorney. You cannot be the one to deliver the documents. The person you choose to mail or deliver the papers can be a friend or relative, a private process server, or the Sheriff’s Department. If the documents are mailed, they need to be sent at least 5 days before the service deadline.
Complete Proof of Service:
The person who mails or delivers the documents to the other parent or their attorney must complete and sign the appropriate proof of service form.
- If your server mailed the papers, you can use form FL-335 Proof of Service by Mail.
- If your server hand-delivered, you can use form FL-330 Proof of Personal Service.
Attend the Hearing:
Before your court date
In San Luis Obispo County, these hearings are always held via Zoom. You should receive Zoom instructions from the court with the papers that you receive from the Department of Child Support Services. Do not attend the hearing in person.
If this is the first time you’ve attended a court hearing, review these basic tips for preparing for a remote court appearance.
On your court date
Log into the Zoom hearing on the date and time listed in item 2 of the FL-680 Notice of Motion.
Child support hearings with the Department of Child Support Services are different from other types of family law hearings. For example, an attorney from the local child support agency will be present. Also, a child support commissioner, rather than a judge, will decide your case. A child support commissioner has experience with child support laws. If you do not want the Commissioner to decide your case, you must object before the hearing.
You can also review this video to give you a better idea of what to expect on the day of your hearing.