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Child Support Services

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1. How do I apply for child support services?

You can visit the Child Support Office or call to have the forms sent to you through the mail, or you may download the Child Support Packet.

Our toll free phone number is(866)901-3212.

2. How can I pay my child support?

If you have an open case with a local child support agency and do not pay through wage withholding, you have several options:

• Pay by check. mail your payment to:
  California State Disbursement Unit
  P.O. Box 989067
  West Sacramento, CA 95798


• Make a single automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account at California State Disbursement Unit or by telephone at (866) 325-1010


• Set-up ongoing (recurring) automatic withdrawals from your checking or savings account or credit card at California State Disbursement Unit

3. Where can I find information on emancipation?

Child support generally continues until the minor child emancipates or until otherwise noted in the child support order. Under California law, a parent’s obligation to pay support continues until the child becomes 18 years old. However, the current support obligation may continue until the child is 19, if the child is unmarried and attending high school full-time. A court may order current child support to continue after the child emancipates because of special circumstances.

If there are arrears (past due support) owed on the child support case, the local child support agency may continue to enforce collection of the arrears until the case is paid in full, including any interest that may have built up.

For more information, view Information for the Noncustodial Parent

4. My children and I are receiving CalWORKs benefits, but I did not apply for your services. Why was a case opened?

State and Federal law require recipients of CalWORKs benefits to participate in the Child Support Program.

The CalWORKs office must send us a referral to open a case to establish paternity, child support and health insurance for the children receiving the benefits.

When you are approved for these benefits, your rights to child support are assigned to the county for the time period you and the children receive aid. The child support collected while your family receives aid is used to reimburse the money paid to your family by the county, pursuant to State and Federal Law.

5. Does the father's name on the Birth Certificate establish paternity?

The Birth Certificate does not establish paternity. It is only an acknowledgement. If a parent was to die, the Birth Certificate does not guarantee benefits will be awarded.

6. How can I get custody or visitation?

Our office does not offer these services. The Family Law Facilitator is provided as a free service to provide legal information and assistance to people representing themselves in a Family Law matter.

For more information, view Family Law for the Superior Court of California.