Child Support & Visitation

Child Support

The vast majority of child support debt is not owed by fathers who refuse to pay, but by fathers who can not afford to support both themselves (even basic cost of living expenses) and pay their child support obligation.  Fatherhood programs provide similar services to these fathers that are found in social service agencies but directed toward the custodial parent.  By assisting the father with obtaining a reasonable child support order and by providing employment assistance, the custodial parent and child have a much better chance of receiving a consistent child support payment in the future.  

Services include:
•    Job readiness and retention classes
•    Links to job training through workforce investment
•    Assistance with navigating the child support system
•    Assistance with process of modifying child support when a significant change in circumstance has occurred
•    Assistance with license revocation and gaining provisional licenses

Visitation

The majority of fathers enrolled in program services have a child support obligation that was established by the South Carolina  Department of Social Services/Child Support Enforcement (SCDSS/CSE).  Although SCDSS/CSE is authorized by federal statute to pursue child support from any noncustodial parent when a custodial parent applies for TANF assistance, SCDSS/CSE is prohibited from establishing any legal visitation rights.  As a result, most low-income fathers do not have legal visitation rights even if they pay their child support consistently each month.  By assisting the father with establishing parenting time, the program is ensuring that fathers provide not only the financial support, but also the emotional support the child needs.   

Services include:
•    Conflict mediation with custodial parent to establish a parenting plan
•    Assistance with process of filing as a self-represented litigant for visitation rights when mediation is not possible

*Every program site has a South Carolina Supreme Court Certified Family Court Mediator on staff.  For more information, please contact your local program.