Notes to help you complete this form
Who is a parent?
A parent is a person who:
• is the birth or legally adoptive parent of a child
• was married to the other parent when the child was conceived or born
• has acknowledged before a court, or in writing, that they are a parent of the child and a court has not overturned this
• has been declared a legal step-parent by the Family Court
• a court has made a paternity order against in respect of the child.
Alias names
You can ask to use an alias name when you need to protect your privacy. For example, you don't want the other parent to know your
new married name. We won't accept a nickname.
Safety concerns about your name
If you believe that using your real name will cause safety concerns for you, a carer, or your child, we may be able to leave your
name out when communicating with the other parent.
To support your safety reasons remember to attach any relevant documents to this form. For example a court order, police report, a
letter from a social worker or Work & Income, or a letter from your doctor.
Proof of date of birth
You will need to supply one of the following for proof of date of birth:
• full New Zealand birth certicate
• overseas birth certicate
• passport
• certicate of New Zealand citizenship
• certicate of identity
• photo driver's licence
• 18+ card issued by the Hospitality Association.
Proof of parentage
You will need to supply one of the following for proof of parentage:
• the child's full New Zealand birth certicate
• the child's full overseas birth certicate (with a certied English translation if necessary)
• adoption order for the child
• a paternity order for the child made by a New Zealand or overseas court
• a completed Acknowledgement of paternity for child support (IR106) form*
• a document signed by the parent acknowledging they are the child's parent*
• a copy of the Family Court’s declaration of step-parentage.
*These documents can't be used to prove the child's date of birth. You must also send in a copy of one of the documents in the list under "Proof of
date of birth".
If there's no proof of parentage, we may tell the person named that this application has been made naming them as a
parent of the child/children.
Recognised care
The child support formula recognises the costs of raising a child and shares these costs between the parents based on their
income and care. Care is recognised in the following situations:
• If a person provides more than 263 nights per year, or 5 nights a week on average (more than 72% of the time) of a child's care,
theirs is the only care we take into account in the child support formula calculation.
• If a parent cares for the child at least 103 nights per year, or 2 nights per week (28% of the time) that care is taken into account
in the child support formula calculation.
• A non-parent carer, eg, a grandparent, has care of a child for at least 128 nights per year, or 5 nights per fortnight (35% of the
time).
Use our online calculator at www.ird.govt.nz/childsupport to work out your care levels. You can then print and attach it to this
form.
Agreement or court order
If you have an agreement or court order detailing the care arrangements for your child/children, we can use this to work out your
recognised care level.
Child Support www.ird.govt.nz/childsupport
Notes