Maryland Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Maryland's Child Support Administration (CSA), part of the Department of Human Services, runs child support statewide through local offices in each of the state's 24 counties and Baltimore City.
Phone
1-800-332-6347Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Human Services – Child Support Administration
25 South Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-3303
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗Enforcement
Report Missed Payments ↗About the Department of Human Services – Child Support Administration
CSA is a state division of DHS but delivers services through local branch offices in each of Maryland's 24 counties and Baltimore City, so the specific office a family works with depends on where they live.
The division locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active, with case management available through Maryland's myMDTHINK portal.
Maryland uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Maryland'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 Maryland →
How to Apply for Child Support in Maryland
A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for Maryland child support services through the myMDTHINK portal or by contacting their local CSA office. Families already receiving TCA (Maryland'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. The local office then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Maryland
Maryland 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 through Maryland's Smart e-Pay portal, and both parents can check payment history through myMDTHINK regardless of which local office is managing the case.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
CSA's enforcement tools page lists options including tax refund interception, license suspension, and credit bureau reporting for parents who fall 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
Do I apply for Maryland child support through the state or my county? +
CSA is a state division of DHS, but it delivers services through local offices in each county and Baltimore City — your local office handles the actual casework.
How do I apply for Maryland child support services? +
Through the myMDTHINK portal or by contacting your local CSA office. Families already receiving TCA or Medicaid in Maryland are typically referred for services automatically.
What enforcement tools does Maryland use for missed payments? +
Tax refund interception, license suspension, and credit bureau reporting, listed on CSA's enforcement tools page. Once past-due support exceeds $2,500, a passport can also be denied under federal law.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how Maryland calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Maryland'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 Maryland.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Maryland.
Learn more →This page is your Maryland starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Human Services – Child Support Administration 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 Maryland, interstate rules — not Maryland'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.