North Carolina Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
North Carolina Child Support Services (NCCSS), part of the Department of Health and Human Services, is federally mandated, state-supervised, and county-administered.
Phone
1-800-992-9457Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Health and Human Services – North Carolina Child Support Services
NC Child Support Services, P.O. Box 20800
Raleigh, NC 27619-0800
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗About the Department of Health and Human Services – North Carolina Child Support Services
NCDHHS describes its own system plainly: North Carolina child support is federally mandated, state-supervised, and county-administered — the state sets policy while each county's Department of Social Services handles the actual casework.
NCCSS and the local county offices together locate noncustodial parents, establish paternity, set support orders, and collect and enforce payments once a case is active.
North Carolina uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
North Carolina'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 North Carolina →
How to Apply for Child Support in North Carolina
A parent or caretaker of a child applies for North Carolina child support services through their county Department of Social Services or online through eChild Support. Families already receiving Work First (North Carolina'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 county office then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in North Carolina
North Carolina 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 Smart e-Pay, and both parents can check case status through eChild Support regardless of which county is managing the case.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
North Carolina's counties, with state oversight, 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
Do I apply for North Carolina child support through the state or my county? +
Through your county Department of Social Services — North Carolina describes its own system as state-supervised, county-administered.
How do I apply for North Carolina child support services? +
Through your county DSS office or online through eChild Support. Families already receiving Work First or Medicaid in North Carolina are typically referred automatically.
How do I check my North Carolina child support case status? +
Through the eChild Support online portal, which works regardless of which county is managing your case.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how North Carolina calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
North Carolina'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 North Carolina.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside North Carolina.
Learn more →This page is your North Carolina starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Health and Human Services – North Carolina 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 North Carolina, interstate rules — not North Carolina'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.