District of Columbia Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
The District of Columbia's Child Support Services Division (CSSD), part of the Office of the Attorney General, runs child support for the entire district as a single jurisdiction.
Phone
(202) 442-9900Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Services Division
441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 550 North
Washington, DC 20001
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗Enforcement
Report Missed Payments ↗About the Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Services Division
CSSD is D.C.'s IV-D agency, run out of the Office of the Attorney General rather than a health or human services department. Because D.C. is a single jurisdiction rather than a state with counties, there's one central office for the entire district.
The division locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active, with an online case lookup tool separate from the main application portal.
District of Columbia uses the Hybrid Model model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
District of Columbia's default child support termination age is 21. See the full rules, including high school and disability extensions →
Circumstances change — see how to request a modification in District of Columbia →
How to Apply for Child Support in District of Columbia
A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for D.C. child support services online through the CSSD enrollment portal or by visiting the office directly. Families already receiving TANF or Medicaid in D.C. 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. CSSD then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in District of Columbia
D.C. collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, disbursed to the receiving parent by direct deposit or debit card.
Payments can be made and tracked online, and case status can be checked separately through D.C.'s online case lookup tool without needing to call the office directly.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
CSSD can intercept tax refunds, suspend licenses, and report arrears to credit bureaus when a parent falls behind on payments.
As in every state, federal law allows a passport to be denied or revoked once past-due support exceeds $2,500. CSSD's enforcement page details the process for enforcing an existing order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for D.C. child support services? +
Through the CSSD enrollment portal online or by visiting the office at 441 4th Street NW. Families already receiving TANF or Medicaid in D.C. are typically referred for services automatically.
How do I check my D.C. child support case status? +
D.C. runs a separate online case lookup tool from the main application portal, letting you check status without calling the office directly.
What happens if the other parent stops paying in D.C.? +
CSSD can intercept tax refunds, suspend licenses, and report the debt to credit bureaus. Once past-due support exceeds $2,500, a passport can also be denied or revoked under federal law.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how District of Columbia calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
District of Columbia'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 District of Columbia.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside District of Columbia.
Learn more →This page is your District of Columbia starting point
Contact information above covers what the Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Services Division 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 District of Columbia, interstate rules — not District of Columbia'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.