Texas Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
Texas child support is handled by the Office of the Attorney General's Child Support Division, which opens and manages cases, establishes paternity and support orders, and enforces payment through the state's court and administrative systems.
Phone
(800) 252-8014Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Division
P.O. Box 12017
Austin, TX 78711-2017
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗Enforcement
Report Missed Payments ↗About the Office of the Attorney General – Child Support Division
The Child Support Division of the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is the state's designated IV-D agency, the office every state is required to run under federal law to establish, collect, and enforce child support. It's the largest child support program in the country by the amount it collects each year.
The division handles the full life of a case: locating a noncustodial parent, establishing legal paternity, setting a support order with the courts, and then collecting and enforcing payments once an order is in place. It also processes medical and dental support orders alongside the cash support amount.
Cases are managed through local child support field offices across the state, but applications, payments, and case updates are largely handled online or by phone through the division's central systems rather than in person.
Texas uses the Percentage of Income (Varying) model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
Texas's default child support termination age is 18 or high school graduation, whichever is later. See the full rules, including high school and disability extensions →
Circumstances change — see how to request a modification in Texas →
How to Apply for Child Support in Texas
Either parent, or in some cases a relative or caretaker with custody of the child, can open a Texas child support case. There's no cost to apply, and you don't need a lawyer — the OAG attorney in the case represents the state and the interest of the child, not either parent individually.
You can apply online through the OAG's website, which walks you through the required information: both parents' identifying details, the child's information, and any existing custody or support order. If paternity hasn't been legally established, that's typically the first step before a support order can be set.
Once an application is processed, Texas works to locate the other parent, establish paternity if needed, and get a support order in place through the courts or an administrative process. Processing time varies by case complexity, particularly when a parent needs to be located out of state.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in Texas
Texas collects most child support through income withholding: once an order is in place, the paying parent's employer is required to deduct the payment directly from wages and send it to the state, which then disburses it to the receiving parent. This is the default method for the large majority of cases.
Payments are processed through the Texas Child Support Disbursement Unit and can be received by direct deposit or a state-issued debit card. Receiving parents can check payment history and case status anytime through their online account rather than waiting on a mailed statement.
If a parent is self-employed or doesn't have a single steady employer to withhold from, Texas can arrange other payment methods, but income withholding remains the primary and most reliable path once a case has an active order.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
When payments fall behind, Texas has a range of enforcement tools beyond wage withholding: intercepting state and federal tax refunds, suspending driver's and professional licenses, placing liens on property, and reporting delinquent amounts to credit bureaus.
Under federal law, a parent who owes more than $2,500 in past-due child support can also be denied a U.S. passport, or have an existing one revoked, until the debt is resolved or a payment arrangement is made.
In more serious or persistent cases, Texas can pursue court action for contempt, which can carry fines or jail time. The OAG's enforcement page has the current list of tools in use and how to report a parent who has stopped paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer to open a Texas child support case? +
No. The OAG's Child Support Division opens and manages cases at no cost, and the attorney assigned to a case represents the state's interest in the child receiving support, not either parent personally. You're welcome to hire your own attorney, but it isn't required.
How long does it take to get a Texas child support order in place? +
It depends on whether paternity needs to be established and whether both parents can be located quickly. Straightforward cases can move in a matter of months, while cases involving an out-of-state or hard-to-locate parent typically take longer.
What happens if the other parent stops paying? +
The OAG can pursue several enforcement actions, including wage withholding increases, tax refund interception, license suspension, and passport denial once past-due support exceeds $2,500. You can report a missed payment through your online account or by calling the division directly.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how Texas calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
Texas'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 Texas.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside Texas.
Learn more →This page is your Texas starting point
Contact information above covers what the Office of the Attorney General – Child Support 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 Texas, interstate rules — not Texas'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.