International Child Support – Father Is A Us Citizen In California, I’m In The Philippines And Stuck On What To Do Next

Location: Philippines (father believed to be in California, USA)

Hi everyone. I’m hoping someone with experience in international child support or California family law can offer some guidance because I feel like I’ve reached a dead end.

I am a solo parent in the Philippines with a 16-month-old child. The father is a US citizen and believed to be a resident of California. Our child was born out of wedlock, and the father completely cut off contact with me during my pregnancy. Since then, he has made no effort to communicate or provide any form of support.

He does not appear to have a permanent address that I know of, but I do know the business address of his brother, and his travels and whereabouts are publicly visible on his Instagram account. From what I understand, he may also be receiving VA disability benefits in the US.

I’ve been trying to pursue child support but keep running into obstacles. Here are the steps I have already taken:

• I attempted to enroll in the California Child Support Services program, but the online enrollment system appears to be inaccessible from the Philippines.

• I printed the enrollment packet, but it requires notarization and I’m hesitant to proceed without knowing if this is the correct step.

• I reached out to DSWD in the Philippines regarding the Hague Convention process, but the assistance I received was very limited and confusing.

• I contacted the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), but my inquiry was declined due to jurisdiction issues.

• I was referred to another IBP office near me, but they asked me to first comply with requirements for indigency before they could even confirm if they can assist with this type of case.

At this point I feel stuck. I’m raising my child alone and my financial situation is very tight, so I’m trying to avoid taking steps that might waste time or money if they are incorrect.

My main questions are:

Can someone outside the United States (in my case, the Philippines) successfully pursue child support through California Child Support Services?

Is completing and notarizing the California enrollment packet the correct step for someone in my situation?

If the father does not have a fixed address but is believed to be in California, are there ways the agency can still locate and pursue him?

If he is receiving VA disability benefits, can child support still be enforced?

I’m doing my best to navigate this alone but honestly feel overwhelmed and unsure what the correct next step is.

Any guidance or insight would be greatly appreciated.