Child Support Overview
What is Child Support?
Child support is the ongoing contribution of money to help pay for the living and medical expenses of a child or children until they are adults. The amount that must be paid is set by a court and is called the child support order.
Under federal and state law, both parents have a legal duty to provide financial support for their children.
The goal is to have children share in the standard of living of both parents, so the court may order either or both parents to pay child support.
What can Child Support Services do to help me?
The child support office in your county or region can provide the following services:
- Establishing legal parentage (who is legally responsible for the child)
- Locating parents
- Requesting child support orders from the court at no cost to you
- Requesting medical support orders from the court at no cost to you
- Changing the amount due in child support orders
- Collecting and sending child support payments
- If needed, enforcing child and spousal support orders
What can't Child Support Services do for me?
How can I enroll into Child Support Services?
Either parent or a legal guardian can enroll in services.
If you already have a court order for child support, we offer help without taking sides. You can track your payments, change the order amount if it qualifies, and if payments fall behind, we can help deal with the debt. If you do not have a court order, your support agency will locate the other parent and establish legal parentage if needed. You can get a court order at no cost and in certain cases without even going to court. Once you have an order, it can be enforced in every state and many foreign countries.
Our simple online form makes it quick and easy to enroll.
How long do I have to pay Child Support?
Under California law, you pay child support until the child turns 18, or 19 if the child is unmarried and still attending high school full time. Under special circumstances, the court may order child support to continue after the child is an adult.
If past-due support (called arrears) is still owed, the child support agency handling your case may continue to enforce collection until the balance including interest is paid in full.