Civil Litigation - Taking Daddy to Court

So, after thinking long and hard on it, I've decided I need to take my ex to court for back child support. I've tried to remain the bigger person and have never disparaged him to our children, but the financial strains of raising three children alone are getting too much for me to bear.

I only worry about what the kids will think. They don't even know he's in arrears, let alone that it's been for years. I hope this doesn't put a strain on their relationship with their father. I don't see any way of keeping this civil litigation from them.