Child Support Enforcement Offices: How to Find Yours

If you need to set up, collect, or change child support, the office you deal with most is usually not a federal one. It is your state, local, or tribal child support office. Finding the right office is the first step, and it is not always obvious, especially when parents live in different states. This guide explains how the system is organized and how to locate your office.

How the child support system is organized

Child support in the United States is a partnership. The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), part of the Administration for Children and Families, oversees the national program. On its home page, OCSE says it partners with federal, state, tribal, and local governments and others.

The federal office does not run individual cases. Its Need Help With Your Case? page says it does not manage individual cases or have direct access to case information. The local office in your state or tribe runs the program, and OCSE notes that procedures can differ from place to place.

How to find your local office

OCSE keeps a contact map for state and tribal child support agencies. You choose your state, and the page shows contact information. OCSE explains that your state or tribal website then provides contact details for your local child support office.

USAGov's child support page gives the same starting point: find your state or tribal child support agency and contact them, regardless of where the other parent lives.

Because office names, addresses, and phone numbers vary by state and can change, confirm the details on your state's own website before you visit or mail documents.

Which office to contact depends on your case

OCSE describes three common situations:

• Your case is with one state or tribe. Contact your local child support office. OCSE says the local office can access your case and update information.
• Your case involves two or more states or tribes. Start with your local office. OCSE says cases with several agencies can be more complex. If you need help coordinating between agencies, OCSE offers a contact form.
• You have an international case. Your local office may need to work with a foreign country. OCSE can help if you need assistance working with a foreign child support agency.

What a child support office can do

According to OCSE's How It Works page, child support offices can help with:

• Locating the other parent. Offices use the State Parent Locator Service and, when needed, the Federal Parent Locator Service.
• Establishing parentage (paternity). This can include voluntary acknowledgment or genetic testing.
• Setting a support order. All states have child support guidelines that are used to calculate support.
• Enforcing the order. Your local office helps when support is not paid or becomes past-due.
• Reviewing and changing the order. OCSE says either parent can request a review at least every three years, or when there is a substantial change in circumstances.

OCSE says anyone with custody of a child can sign up for services, including a mother, father, grandparent, or legal guardian. A parent whose child does not live with them can also apply, for example to establish legal parentage.

Costs to ask about

OCSE says a child support agency can charge an application fee of up to $25, and some states absorb all or part of it. Parents who are not in a public assistance program may face other costs, and OCSE notes that extra costs can arise when more than one court or administrative office is involved. Your local office can tell you what applies in your state.

What to bring

OCSE lists information that helps an office work your case, including:

• birth certificates of the children;
• any child support order, divorce decree, or separation agreement;
• records of child support payments received;
• information about your income, assets, and expenses, such as health care and day care; and
• what you know about the other parent: name, address, Social Security number, employer, and income or assets.

The more accurate information you provide, the more efficiently the office can work.

Safety concerns

OCSE says that if you think you or your child would not be safe if you pursue child support, you can talk with your caseworker. There are safeguards, such as a family violence indicator that can be placed in case records to prevent releasing your personal information. OCSE also notes that your address may appear on court documents, so raise any concerns before you open a case.

Where a lawyer fits in

Many parents work directly with the child support office and never hire a lawyer. OCSE also says that if you applied for services with an attorney, the attorney can work with the child support office, and the two should coordinate.

A family lawyer may be useful when:

• parentage is disputed;
• custody, parenting time, and support all need to be decided together;
• income is hard to prove, such as self-employment;
• you believe the amount owed is wrong; or
• more than one state or country is involved.

Our family law practice page explains more about this area.

If you have a complaint

OCSE says that if you want to submit a formal complaint, you should ask your state child support agency about its customer service process. The state's contact details and website are on the OCSE map, and some states have a complaint form online.

Frequently asked questions

Can the federal office tell me about my case?

No. OCSE says it does not manage individual cases or have direct access to case information. Contact your state, local, or tribal office.

Which state's office should I contact if the other parent moved?

USAGov says to start with your own state or tribal child support agency, regardless of where the other parent lives. Your office can work with the other state.

Does the government pay child support if the other parent does not?

No. USAGov says federal and state governments do not pay child support, but they help you collect it.

Can I change my order through the office?

Often, yes. OCSE says either parent can request a review. Your local office can explain your state's process.

Related: Browse guides on legal topics.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed attorney about your situation.