West Virginia Child Support Office
Updated August 2026
West Virginia's Bureau for Child Support Enforcement (BCSE), part of the Department of Human Services, runs child support statewide from its central office in Charleston.
Phone
1-800-249-3778Official Website
Official Site ↗Mailing Address
Department of Human Services – Bureau for Child Support Enforcement
350 Capitol Street, Room 147
Charleston, WV 25301
Case Account
Manage Your Case ↗Payments
Make a Payment ↗About the Department of Human Services – Bureau for Child Support Enforcement
BCSE is West Virginia's IV-D agency, run as a single statewide bureau rather than through independent county agencies. It locates noncustodial parents, establishes paternity, sets support orders, and collects and enforces payments once a case is active.
Parents can check case and payment information using a Social Security number and PIN through the state's Support Payment Information system, without needing to create a separate account.
West Virginia uses the Income Shares model to calculate support. See how this compares to other states →
West Virginia'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 West Virginia →
How to Apply for Child Support in West Virginia
A parent or caretaker of a child can apply for West Virginia child support services by contacting BCSE's Customer Service Unit. Families already receiving WV WORKS (West Virginia'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. BCSE then works to establish paternity if needed and get a support order in place.
How to Collect Child Support Payments in West Virginia
West Virginia collects most support through income withholding once an order is active, disbursed to the receiving parent by direct deposit or debit card.
Payments can be made online through the SMART West Virginia Child Support Payment Center, or mailed to a separate P.O. Box from the Charleston office.
Missed Payments & Enforcement
BCSE 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 West Virginia child support services? +
By contacting BCSE's Customer Service Unit at 1-800-249-3778. Families already receiving WV WORKS or Medicaid in West Virginia are typically referred for services automatically.
How do I check my West Virginia child support case without creating an account? +
Use the Support Payment Information system with your Social Security number and PIN — no separate account registration is required.
How do I make a West Virginia child support payment? +
Through the SMART West Virginia Child Support Payment Center online.
Helpful Resources
Calculator & Guidelines
See how West Virginia calculates the current amount, and how it compares to other states.
Learn more →When Support Ends
West Virginia'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 West Virginia.
Learn more →Interstate Cases
How UIFSA determines jurisdiction when the other parent lives outside West Virginia.
Learn more →This page is your West Virginia starting point
Contact information above covers what the Department of Human Services – Bureau for Child Support Enforcement 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 West Virginia, interstate rules — not West Virginia'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.