If a parent does not make a child support payment, the other parent is not allowed to refuse or deny access to the children. Rather the parent that does not receive the payment should contact an attorney or the Child Support Office to attempt to resolve the monetary issue.
Many states have all child support payments set up through either the courts or a state agency such as the Office of the Attorney General. This provides a buffer between the parents as well as keeps accurate records of payments between parents.
Never married parents or cases where paternity is questioned will need to have a complete paternity test before child support is ordered. In some cases where the father agrees, paternity tests may not be required provided he signs an "Acknowledgement of Paternity" for the child.
