US Federal

What services does the federal child support enforcement program provide?

50 states
Participating states
$5.8B
Collected in 2022
97%
Collection rate
12M+
Cases served annually
The Short Answer

The federal child support enforcement program provides services to locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity and child support orders, enforce support payments, and collect and distribute payments.

What the Law Says

The federal child support enforcement program is authorized by Congress to assist states in establishing and enforcing child support obligations. It operates as a cooperative federal-state partnership under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

The program is funded and guided by federal law, with states required to operate their own Title IV-D agencies that meet federal standards. Services must be provided free or at minimal cost to families seeking support.

Core functions include locating noncustodial parents (even across state lines), establishing legal paternity when needed, obtaining court-ordered child support, and enforcing those orders through wage withholding, tax refund offsets, license suspensions, and other remedies.

Statutory Text

For the purpose of encouraging parental responsibility and strengthening families by improving the administration of child support enforcement programs, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1994 through 2025.

— 42 U.S.C. § 651 — Child support enforcement programs

What to Do

1

Contact your state’s Title IV-D child support agency (find it at acf.hhs.gov/css/contact-us)

2

Apply for services—no fee or low fee; income eligibility not required

3

Provide information about the other parent (name, last known address, employer, etc.)

4

Cooperate with paternity testing or court proceedings if needed

5

Monitor case status online or by phone through your state’s system

Sources

statute42 U.S.C. § 651 — Child support enforcement programs

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.