Paternity should still be established, he is not the legal father
until this is done.
Paternity should still be established. If the father has no job and
is not in school, your CSEA can order him to get a job so he can pay
child support. Your CSEA can collect support due now. It can also
collect any past due support that has built up.
Paternity should still be established. The father can be ordered to
pay child support despite his age. Sometimes, the father's parents
can be ordered to pay child support as well..
Paternity should still be established. When the father gets a job
after getting out of school or jail, your CSEA can collect child
support..
Your CSEA worker will ask you questions about who might be the
child's father. Some of these questions may embarrass you or be hard
to answer. Answer the questions with as many details as you can.
Your answers will help your worker find the man or men who could be
your child's father. Then, Genetic tests can be done. Don't name a
man as the father of your child if you know he is not. This is
against the law.
You will have to cooperate in naming the child's father to
receive public assistance.
Tell your CSEA worker if you have this problem. Your worker will ask
you to show good cause. This means that you have good cause to
believe if you name the father you or the child would be in danger.
After you have established paternity, CSEA will pursue medical
support for your child.
Testing can be done any time after your
child is born.
Will the test hurt my baby?
No, the sample is taken by rubbing a buccal swab ( a small sponge on
the end of a short plastic stick) on the inside of the cheek.
How long does it take?
Collecting the samples is done quickly. Even
with the paperwork, the whole process takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Yes, but it may be harder and take more time.
If the father is still in Ohio, talk to your CSEA worker right away.
The best time to establish fatherhood is when both parents are
living in Ohio. 
The child support agency has no authority over custody issues.
The sooner a father begins to support the child, the more likely he
will keep doing so.
When you wait, you take a chance. You don't know what might happen
in the future. The father might move and you might not be able to
find him. The father could die. Your child may not get any
inheritance or other support. You need to make sure your child will
have support from both parents.
Yes - after you are legally named as the father, you have a duty to
support the child. You need to help with the costs of raising a
child, including medical bills.
You still have a duty to support your child.
You still have a duty to support your child.
You will always have the duty to support your child and rights to
your child unless a court rules differently.
Yes. You can also be ordered to help the mother support the child,
despite your age. Sometimes, your parents may be ordered to pay
support for your child as well.
Yes. Every state has child support laws. These laws let the mother
prove you are the father even if you live in another state.
Can I ask for custody of my child?
The CSEA is
responsible for establishing paternity and support, matters of
custody are not within our authority.
Establishing paternity is the first necessary step in asserting your
rights as a parent.
