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1. Know that your paternity or child support case will be decided without your input if you fail to respond.

2. Understand that if you disagree with a decision made by an administrative child support officer, you may have the right to have a judge address the issue.

3. Know as much as you can about the child support officer you meet with: his or her name, title, power to make a decision, and power to change a decision.

4. Understand what you are signing.

5. Understand the consequences of signing a document before you sign it.

6. Know that just because you are the legal father of a child does not mean that you will have visitation with

or custody of that child unless you get a court order granting you one of these.

7. Pay consistently if you can, even if the amount you pay is below the order amount. Always keep records of your payments.

8.Make sure that you explain and have some written proof of your financial situation so that your child support order can be set at a realistic amount.

9. Request a review and adjustment of your child support payment from your child support caseworker whenever you lose your job or your income is reduced for whatever reasons, and make sure that follow-up occurs.

10.Know that avoiding child support enforcement is likely to make your situation worse.

From the Texas Q and A Handbook for Non-Custodial Parents, Office of John Cornyn, Texas Attorney General