California · Family Code

FAM §7641: (a) If there is a voluntary declaration of paternity in place, or parentage or a duty of support has been acknowledged or adjudicated under this part or under prior law, the obligation of the parent m

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes who can enforce parental support obligations when paternity is established, and specifies payment recipients and court remedies including contempt for willful non-compliance.

Read the full statutory text

(a) If there is a voluntary declaration of paternity in place, or parentage or a duty of support has been acknowledged or adjudicated under this part or under prior law, the obligation of the parent may be enforced in the same or other proceedings by any of the following: (1) The other parent. (2) The child. (3) The public authority that has furnished or may furnish the reasonable expenses of pregnancy, confinement, education, support, or funeral. (4) Any other person, including a private agency, to the extent the person has furnished or is furnishing these expenses. (b) The court may order support payments to be made to any of the following: (1) The other parent. (2) The clerk of the court. (3) A person, corporation, or agency designated to administer the payments for the benefit of the child under the supervision of the court. (c) Willful failure to obey the judgment or order of the court is a civil contempt of the court. All remedies for the enforcement of judgments, including imprisonment for contempt, apply.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.