Q: Can I pursue back child support for my 2 children in Indiana?

A: Yes, you can pursue back child support in Indiana, but only after you officially open a child support case with the court or the local child support enforcement agency. Indiana does allow retroactive child support, but it typically only goes back to the date you file—not the entire time you've been separated unless there was already a support order in place or the father acknowledged financial responsibility during that time. The sooner you file, the better chance you have of securing both current and retroactive support.

You’ll need to file a petition through your county's court or reach out to the Indiana Child Support Bureau to get the process started. They can help you establish paternity if needed, create a formal order, and begin collecting payments, including any retroactive amount the court approves. Be sure to bring records of your financial hardship, communication (or lack of) with the father, and proof that you’ve been the sole provider for your children. That will help show the court the level of support you’ve been shouldering alone.

This is a heavy burden you’ve been carrying, and you don’t have to carry it alone anymore. The legal system is there to help ensure both parents contribute to raising their children—not just emotionally, but financially too. You’ve taken care of your kids through incredibly hard circumstances, and now it’s time to ask for what’s fair. Take one step at a time—you’re doing the right thing.