Child Support in Connecticut

TO OPEN A CASE:

DSS NOTICE TO CHILD SUPPORT CUSTOMERS: The Department of Social Services has limited in-person visits to field offices as a protective measure for customers and staff. Employees in the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) Division continue to work remotely a majority of the time. Limited staff, in each field office, are available to see customers by appointment only. Walk-ins will not be seen. For child support questions, or to request child support services, please call or email the local DSS child support office. Email is the preferred method. Staff will do their best to respond to your concern within two business days.

Call the local DSS Bureau of Child Support Enforcement office where individuals reside. For specific Child Support Office locations, phone numbers and e-mails, visit the DSS page here: https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/Child-Support/Child-Support/Contact

TO MODIFY AN ORDER:

1. 1. If case was originally filed through DSS, call the Judicial Branch’s Support Enforcement Services Child Support Call Center – 1-800-228-KIDS (5437)
  2. If the case was originally filed directly at the court, call the Superior Court where the case was filed.

HELP WITH ENFORCEMENT:

1. 1. 1. If case was originally filed through DSS, call Support Enforcement Services Child Support Call Center – 1-800-228-KIDS (5437)
    2. If the case was originally filed directly at the court, call the Superior Court where the case was filed.

FEES: Opening a case with the Department of Social Services: No fee for recipients of public assistance; If individual does not receive assistance there may be a small fee based on income. Opening a case directly with the Superior Court: Fees will be higher, especially if the parent uses an attorney to file the case.

TO MODIFY A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER:
To modify a child support order, the parent can do one of three things:
1) Hire an attorney to file the motion. Parent pays for the attorney, for the filing fees, and for a marshall to serve the other parent.
2) File a pro-se motion (file the papers without the help of an attorney). Parent pays for the filing fees and for a marshall to serve the other parent.
3) IF THE PARENT IS GETTING ENFORCEMENT SERVICES THROUGH THE STATE, he/she can ask the Judicial Branch’s Support Enforcement Services to file the motion for them. This process takes longer than the first two routes, but there is no charge to the parent. The number for Support Enforcement Services at the Judicial Branch is (800)228-5437.

JUDICIAL BRANCH – CHILD SUPPORT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
English: http://www.jud.ct.gov/childsupport/faq_eng.htm
Spanish: http://www.jud.ct.gov/childsupport/faq_sp.htm

CONNECTICUT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT RESOURCE CENTER: https://ct.smartchildsupport.com/home.aspx
Connecticut’s centralized payment processing center offers web based payment information, a list of frequently asked questions about child support payments, and a tool for making on-line child support payments.

THE CONNECTICUT ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE has a document called “Law in Plain Language: Child Support” that explains Connecticut’s child support enforcement law. http://portal.ct.gov/AG/Childrens-Issues/Child-Support/Law-in-Plain-Language-Child-Support.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES posts an online resource called “Child Support Handbook”: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/resource/handbook-on-child-support-enforcement. This handbook discusses how to apply for child support enforcement services, establishing paternity, locating non-custodial parents, establishing and enforcing a child support order, working across state lines, and lists Child Support Enforcement offices in each state.

For information on “Getting Child Support in Connecticut”, visit CTLawHelp.org – https://ctlawhelp.org/en/get-child-support-connecticut

TO FIND CHILD SUPPORT ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY SERVICES DATABASE:
Search with service name Child Support Assistance/Enforcement

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PREPARED BY: 211/tb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2022