Kentucky Child Support Office

Kentucky's program recently changed hands: state legislation in 2023 and 2025 moved child support out of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and reorganized it under the Attorney General's office as the new Department of Child Support Services, effective July 1, 2025. Some older forms may still reference the previous agency during the transition.

DCSS is a state IV-D agency with local offices staffed by county attorneys employed by the state agency, rather than independently run county programs. It locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active.

A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for Kentucky child support services through the online account system. Families already receiving K-TAP or Medicaid in Kentucky 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. DCSS then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.

Kentucky 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 online through the same interactive site used for case management, though a fee applies for payments made online or by phone.

Kentucky 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.