posted 12-05-2005 04:30 PM            

I have no idea how things work in California, but my guess is, if they already have you in court, they will handle it then, especially if the other parent has mentioned something about wanting to work out a visitation/parenting plan.

Good Luck.

posted 12-06-2005 08:30 AM            

I contacted the SRS in April. I filled out the paperwork and sent it back. It was filed with the court about mid-May. In court, they allow the other party 30 days to get there stuff together. So mid-May the counted June 1st. I was granted back support for July (they had all of June to get their stuff together, so that month didn't count), August and September. I was granted back support for the time of her life. Just support starting 1 month after I filed the case until the case was decided.

I absolutely hated court. I am a good parent and a good citizen/person. I didn't know that I was going to have to stand infront of the judge until about 12 hours before, so I felt very unprepared. I went through SRS, so I had never met the attorney until 15 minutes before court. The whole time I was at the court house, my ex's attorney was trying to make me look bad. Saying things like "ex's girlfriend offered to watch the daughter during the day part time to help cut down the cost of daycare. Erin declined this, therefore we don't believe ex should be responsible for care that he could provide for free." I was so upset, I had no idea that court was really about character attacking, I thought that was only in the movies. It was a real eye opener for me. When we were standing outside of the court room, I said (my ex claimed to not be working, but he was working under the table) I said straight to his attorney's face "Don't they-ex and his girlfriend-have jobs, because I am sure that your bill is getting paid?!"