The Child Support Division of the Office of the Attorney General or OAG is the official public child support agency for the state of Texas. They ensure every child receives the support they need and deserve. Well, on this page, let us learn more about the Child Support Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).
About the Attorney General
The 51st Attorney General of Texas is Ken Paxton. On November 4, 2014, he was elected, and sworn into office on January 5, 2015. In 2018, Ken Paxton was re-elected to a second term. As the state’s top law enforcement officer, the Attorney General leads more than 4,000 employees in 38 divisions and 117 offices around Texas. That includes almost 750 attorneys, who handle more than 30,000 cases annually, enforcing child support orders, enforcing open government laws, protecting Texans against consumer fraud, representing the state of Texas in court and providing legal advice to state officials.
His first initiative as attorney general of Texas was the formation of a special unit dedicated to combating human trafficking in Texas. During its first year of existence, the Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime section assisted arrest the chief executive officer of Backpage.com and coordinated to facilitate the permanent shut down of Backpage.com, the biggest online sex-trafficking marketplace in the United States.
Mission and Values of the Office of Attorney General
They are committed to serving the children and families of Texas. Their goal is for their mission statement and their core values to be reflected in everything they do.
Mission
To encourage responsible parenting by promoting the involvement of both parents and making sure that the children receive the support they require and deserve.
Values
Every day, they aim to meet the standards of their core values:
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- Respect – for themselves, for those they serve, with whom they work and with whom they partner.
- Innovation – leveraging their creativity, passion, and technology to transform and elevate their program and the way that they fulfill their mission.
- Service – selfless dedication to their mission and to those they serve, demonstrated by their stewardship of the resources entrusted to them and the integrity with which they approach their work.
- Excellence – in their performance, in the professional way in which they provide services, the attitude they bring, the knowledge they obtain and the relationships they build.
To support Texas families, the Child Support Division:
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- Establishes paternity.
- Gets court orders for financial, medical, and dental support of children.
- Enforces the child support orders.
- Promotes the emotional involvement of both parents.
- Collaborates with the state agencies and community organizations to serve Texas families.
Responsibilities of the Office of Attorney General
Here are the main responsibilities of the Office of Attorney General:
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- Defending the State of Texas and its duly enacted laws by giving legal representation to the State, its officials and agencies, giving legal opinions, reviewing bonds of public security, and making sure compliance with the Texas Public Information Act.
- Serving the children of Texas via the enforcement of the state’s child support laws and the collection of child support on behalf of Texas families.
- Securing justice for Texans by investigating criminal activities, including internet crimes against children, crimes of human trafficking, election fraud, helping local law enforcement in prosecutions and appeals, apprehending fugitives, investigating Medicaid fraud, and giving support to victims of violent crime and administering victim assistance programs.
- Protecting Texans from fraud and abuse by enforcing consumer protection and antitrust laws, educating the consumers on fraudulent scams, and looking for recovery from Medicaid fraudsters in civil action.
- Safeguarding the freedoms of Texans which is guaranteed by the United States and Texas constitutions.
To fulfill these main responsibilities, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government and issues legal opinions when requested by the Governor, sits as an ex-officio member of state committees and commissions, and also defends challenges to state laws and suits against state agencies and individual employees of the State.
Who Can Apply for Child Support Services – What Is the Fee?
The Attorney General’s Office will accept applications from mothers, fathers and other individuals who request services. Their attorneys represent the State of Texas in giving child support services and do not represent either parent in the case. The customers do not have the right to choose what enforcement actions are taken in their cases. The Office of the Attorney General is needed to give all appropriate services for the benefit of the children.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid recipients automatically receive child support services after they are certified for public assistance. Persons who do not receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid have to apply for child support services. For your information, there is no charge to apply for child support services. Since October 1, 2011, custodial parents with full-service cases who have never received TANF will pay a $25 fee each year that they receive at least $500 in child support collections. Fees are going to be deducted from child support payments. The parents who have more than one child support case are going to pay a fee on each case which meets the criteria.
What Information Does the Office of The Attorney General Need to Find A Noncustodial Parent?
Aside from the noncustodial parent’s current address, the most crucial information an applicant can provide is the name and address of the noncustodial parent’s current employer. If the current employer is not known, then the name and address of the last known employer must be provided.
In addition, the below information about the noncustodial parent should be provided, if known:
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- Social Security number of the noncustodial parent
- Names and addresses of relatives and friends of the noncustodial parent.
- Names of organizations or clubs to which the noncustodial parent belongs.
- Places where the noncustodial parent spends their free time.
What Documents Are Needed by The Office of The Attorney General?
If available, child support applicants have to submit copies of the following:
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- The divorce decree, or court order for child support.
- The acknowledgment of paternity.
- The birth certificates of the children involved.
- All documents reflecting parents’ incomes and assets.
- Evidence of the child support payment history.
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