Louisiana Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Louisiana's Child Support Enforcement Division, part of the Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS), runs child support statewide through its LA CAFÉ online system.
Phone
1-877-7LA-DCFSOfficial Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Children & Family Services – Child Support Enforcement Division
Centralized Collection Unit, P.O. Box 260222
Baton Rouge, LA 70826
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗About the Department of Children & Family Services – Child Support Enforcement Division
DCFS administers Louisiana's child support program statewide rather than through independent parish (county-equivalent) agencies. It locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active.
Case management runs through LA CAFÉ, DCFS's self-service system, which handles both new applications and ongoing case status, messaging, and payment information for existing cases.
Louisiana uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Louisiana'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 Louisiana →
How to Apply for Child Support in Louisiana
A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for Louisiana child support services through the LA CAFÉ self-service portal. Families already receiving FITAP (Louisiana'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. DCFS then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Louisiana
Louisiana collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, processed by the Centralized Collection Unit in Baton Rouge and disbursed to the receiving parent.
Payments can also be made online through ExpertPay or in cash through MoneyGram using Receive Code 14695. LA CAFÉ lets both parents check payment history and case status.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
DCFS 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for Louisiana child support services? +
Through the LA CAFÉ self-service portal. Families already receiving FITAP or Medicaid in Louisiana are typically referred for services automatically.
How do I make a Louisiana child support payment? +
Online through ExpertPay, or in cash through MoneyGram using Receive Code 14695.
What happens if the other parent stops paying in Louisiana? +
DCFS 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 Louisiana calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Louisiana'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 Louisiana.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Louisiana.
Learn more →This page is your Louisiana starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Children & Family Services – Child Support Enforcement 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 Louisiana, interstate rules — not Louisiana'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.