Georgia Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Georgia's child support program is run by the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), part of the Georgia Department of Human Services, which handles applications, establishment, and enforcement statewide.
Phone
1-877-423-4746Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Human Services – Division of Child Support Services
47 Trinity Ave. S.W.
Atlanta, GA 30334
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗About the Department of Human Services – Division of Child Support Services
DCSS is Georgia's designated IV-D agency, the office that establishes, collects, and enforces child support statewide under the federal program every state is required to run. It operates a network of local offices across Georgia in addition to its statewide call center and online services.
The division's work covers the full case lifecycle: locating a noncustodial parent, establishing legal paternity when it hasn't already been established, setting a support order, and then collecting and enforcing payments once an order is active.
Georgia also offers the DCSS On the Go mobile app and an online customer portal, so most day-to-day case management — checking payment history, updating contact information, viewing case status — can be done without a call or office visit.
Georgia uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Georgia'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 Georgia →
How to Apply for Child Support in Georgia
A parent or legal caretaker of a child can apply for Georgia child support services online through the DCSS customer portal. Families receiving TANF or Medicaid in Georgia are automatically referred for services; other families apply directly for a modest application fee.
The online application asks for identifying information for both parents and the child, along with any existing custody, divorce, or support documentation you have on hand. You can also start the process by calling the DCSS call center at 1-877-423-4746 (1-877-GADHSGO) or visiting a local office.
Once DCSS opens a case, it works to locate the other parent if needed, establish paternity, and get a support order through the courts or Georgia's administrative process before payments and enforcement can begin.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Georgia
Georgia collects most support payments through income withholding: once an order is in place, the paying parent's employer sends the payment directly to the state, which processes and disburses it to the receiving parent.
DCSS offers direct deposit and a state debit card for receiving payments, and account holders can log in to the online case portal or the DCSS On the Go app to check payment history and case status at any time.
Paying parents who aren't on a standard payroll can make payments directly online, by phone, or through the DCSS-affiliated payment portal, though wage withholding remains the default once an employer is on record.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
When a parent falls behind on payments, DCSS can use a range of enforcement tools: intercepting state and federal tax refunds, suspending driver's, hunting, fishing, and professional licenses, reporting arrears to credit bureaus, and placing liens on property or bank accounts.
As in every state, federal law allows the U.S. State Department to deny or revoke a passport once past-due child support exceeds $2,500.
DCSS can also refer cases for contempt action through the courts, which can carry fines or jail time for parents who persistently avoid paying despite having the ability to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for child support in Georgia? +
You can apply online through the DCSS customer portal, by calling 1-877-423-4746 (1-877-GADHSGO), or by visiting a local DCSS office. Families already receiving TANF or Medicaid in Georgia are typically referred for services automatically.
How does DCSS pay out child support I collect? +
By direct deposit or a state-issued debit card. You can track payment history and case status anytime through the DCSS online portal or the DCSS On the Go mobile app.
What can DCSS do if the other parent stops paying? +
DCSS can intercept tax refunds, suspend various state-issued licenses, report the debt to credit bureaus, place liens on property, and — once arrears exceed $2,500 — have the parent's passport denied or revoked under federal law.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how Georgia calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Georgia'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 Georgia.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Georgia.
Learn more →This page is your Georgia starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Human Services – Division 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 Georgia, interstate rules — not Georgia'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.