Can grandparents open a child support case to establish support for their grandchild(ren)?
Under certain circumstances a grandparent can open a child support case to establish paternity and obtain court ordered child support. • If a grandparent has been appointed the legal guardian of his/her grandchild and the grandparent needs help enforcing or modifying a child support order, the grandparent can apply for child support services. • A grandparent who is receiving government benefits such as TANF or Medicaid, may be asked to cooperate with our office to establish a child support order with the biological parents of the child. • If the grandparent can provide proof that the child has been living with and under the supervision of the grandparent, then the grandparent can apply for child support services. A separate child support case will be opened with each noncustodial parent (mother and father), even if one or both parents live in the same household.
