The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program is a federal/state/local effort to locate parents, their employers, and/or their assets; establish paternity if necessary; and establish and enforce child support orders. State and local CSE offices provide day to day operation of the program. The federal role is to provide funding, issue policies, ensure that federal requirements are met, and interact with other federal agencies that help support the CSE program.
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How and where do I apply?

In most states, CSE offices are listed under the human services agency in the local government section of the telephone directory. If there is not a separate listing, the human services agency information operator should be able to give you the number. State CSE agencies are listed at the end of this brochure; they also can provide telephone numbers for local offices.

Call your Child Support Enforcement office to learn how to apply for enforcement services and what documents (birth certificates, financial statements, etc.) you should provide.
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What are the steps to collecting support?

The first step, if a child was born out of wedlock, is to establish paternity - or make a legal determination of who fathered the child. Many men will voluntarily acknowledge paternity. Either parent can request a blood test in contested paternity cases. Your caseworker will help you to establish paternity for your child.

Establishing the obligation is the next step. The fair amount of child support that the non-custodial parent should pay is determined according to state guidelines. Your CSE office will be able to tell you how support award amounts are set in your state. Your CSE office can also request medical support for your child.

The last step is enforcement of the child support order. The CSE office can help with collecting the money due no matter where the non-custodial parent lives.

At any of these steps, the CSE office may need to know where the non-custodial parent is living or where he/she is working. When a parent has disappeared, it is usually possible for the CSE office to find him/her with the help of state agencies, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, or the Federal Parent Locator Service. Your caseworker can tell you what information is needed to find an absent parent or his/her employer.

The most successful way to collect child support is by direct withholding from the obligated parent's paycheck. Most child support orders require the employer to withhold the money that is ordered for child support and send it to the CSE office. Your Child Support Enforcement office can tell you about this procedure.

Federal and State Income Tax refunds may be withheld to collect unpaid child support. States also have laws which allow them to use: liens on real and personal property; orders to withhold and deliver property; or seizure and sale of property with the proceeds applied to the support debt. Many states routinely report child support debts to credit bureaus and smart parents are bringing their payments current so that their credit won't be affected.

For More Information write for the Handbook on Child Support Enforcement.
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STATE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT OFFICES


Alabama (205) 242-9300
Alaska (907) 276-3441
Arizona (602) 252-0236
Arkansas (501) 682-8398
California (916) 654-1556
Colorado (303) 866-5994
Connecticut (203) 566-3053
Delaware (302) 577-4863
DC (202) 724-8800
Florida (904) 488-9900
Georgia (404) 657-3851
Guam (671) 475-3360
Hawaii (808) 587-3700
Idaho (208) 334-5710
Illinois (217) 782-8768
Indiana (317) 232-4894
Iowa (515) 281-5580
Kansas (913) 296-3237
Kentucky (502) 564-2285
Louisiana (504) 342-4780
Maine (207) 287-2886
Maryland (410) 333-3979
Massachusetts (617) 727-4200
Michigan (517) 373-7570
Minnesota (612) 296-2542
Mississippi (601) 359-4500
Missouri (314) 751-4301
Montana (406) 444-4614
Nebraska (402) 471-9125
Nevada (702) 687-4744
New Hampshire (603) 271-4426
New Jersey (609) 588-2361
New Mexico (505) 827-7200
New York (518) 474-9081
North Carolina (919) 571-4120
North Dakota (701) 224-3582
Ohio (614) 752-6561
Oklahoma (405) 522-5871
Oregon (503) 986-2417
Pennsylvania (717) 787-3672
Puerto Rico (809) 722-4731
Rhode Island (401) 277-2409
South Carolina (803) 737-5870
South Dakota (605) 773-3641
Tennessee (615) 741-1820
Texas (512) 463-2181
Utah (801) 538-4400
Vermont (802) 241-2319
Virgin Islands (809) 774-5666
Virginia (804) 692-2458
Washington (206) 586-3162
West Virginia (304) 558-3780
Wisconsin (608) 266-9909
Wyoming (307) 777-6948