California Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
California's child support program is state-supervised and county-administered: the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) sets statewide policy and runs the payment system, while local county agencies deliver casework.
Phone
1-866-901-3212Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Child Support Services
P.O. Box 419064
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9064
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗Enforcement
Report Missed Payments ↗About the Department of Child Support Services
DCSS is California's IV-D agency at the state level, but actual casework — opening a case, establishing paternity, going to court — is handled by one of more than 50 county Local Child Support Agencies (LCSAs), similar in structure to Ohio's county-run system.
The state office runs the Customer Connect self-service portal and the State Disbursement Unit (SDU), which processes payments for the entire state regardless of which county a case is filed in, so payment tracking is centralized even though casework isn't.
California uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
California's default child support termination age is 18. See the full rules, including high school and disability extensions →
Circumstances change — see how to request a modification in California →
How to Apply for Child Support in California
You apply for California child support services through your county's Local Child Support Agency, which you can find through the DCSS website. Families already receiving CalWORKs or Medi-Cal are typically referred for services automatically.
The application asks for identifying information for both parents and the child, along with any existing custody or divorce paperwork. Your county LCSA then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order through the courts.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in California
Regardless of which county handles a case, all payments run through California's State Disbursement Unit, which processes income-withholding payments and disburses them to the receiving parent by direct deposit or a Way2Go debit card.
Customer Connect lets both parents check payment history and case status online at any time. The Way2Go card customer service line, 1-844-318-0740, handles card-specific questions separately from the main DCSS line.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
When a parent falls behind, California can intercept state and federal tax refunds, suspend licenses, report arrears to credit bureaus, and place liens on property, coordinated between the county LCSA and the state office.
As in every state, federal law allows a passport to be denied or revoked once past-due support exceeds $2,500. DCSS also runs a Complaint Resolution Program and an Ombudsperson process for disputes about how a case is being handled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I apply for California child support through the state or my county? +
Through your county's Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) — California is state-supervised but county-administered. The state DCSS office runs the payment system and the Customer Connect portal but doesn't handle individual casework directly.
How does California pay out child support I collect? +
Through the State Disbursement Unit, which processes payments for every county and pays them out by direct deposit or a Way2Go debit card. You can track payments through Customer Connect.
What if I disagree with how my California case is being handled? +
DCSS runs a Complaint Resolution Program and Ombudsperson process specifically for concerns about how a county LCSA is managing a case, in addition to the standard state hearing process.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how California calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
California's default termination age, plus how high school, disability, or college can extend it.
Learn more →Modify an Order
What counts as a substantial change and how to request a modification in California.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside California.
Learn more →This page is your California starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Child Support Services handles directly, but the guideline model, termination age, and modification rules that decide your amount live on the dedicated pages linked here. And if the other parent lives outside California, interstate rules — not California's own procedures — determine which state has authority.
Nearby State Child Support Offices
Rules, portals, and enforcement tools change at the state line. If a case involves parents in more than one state, start with each state's own office — interstate cases are handled through direct cooperation between the agencies involved.