Maryland Child Support Office

CSA is a state division of DHS but delivers services through local branch offices in each of Maryland's 24 counties and Baltimore City, so the specific office a family works with depends on where they live.

The division locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active, with case management available through Maryland's myMDTHINK portal.

A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for Maryland child support services through the myMDTHINK portal or by contacting their local CSA office. Families already receiving TCA (Maryland's TANF program) or Medicaid are typically referred for services automatically.

The application requires identifying information for both parents and the child, along with any existing custody or support paperwork. The local office then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.

Maryland collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, disbursed to the receiving parent by direct deposit or debit card.

Payments can also be made through Maryland's Smart e-Pay portal, and both parents can check payment history through myMDTHINK regardless of which local office is managing the case.

CSA's enforcement tools page lists options including tax refund interception, license suspension, and credit bureau reporting for parents who fall behind on payments.

As in every state, federal law allows a passport to be denied or revoked once past-due support exceeds $2,500.