San Francisco Department of Child Support Services


Help is Available
All children have the right to be supported by both parents.

Any parent caring for a child who cannot get needed support assistance from the other parent, is eligible for help.

The Department of Child Support Services provides its services free of charge to all custodial parents, whether or not they receive welfare. The only requirements are that you have physical custody of the child and cooperate with us in working your case.

 Interstate Cases
If the non-custodial parent lives in another state, the Department of Child Support Services will request the assistance of the Child Support Agency in that state to establish or enforce an order. It may be that an existing order will be enforced. In other cases, a new order will be established, support collected there and sent to you through the Department of Child Support Services here.

Enforcing a Support Order
The Department of Child Support Services uses a variety of actions to collect support. The action taken will depend on the facts and circumstances of the individual cases.

In addition to civil enforcement actions, collection of delinquent Child Support can be done through intercepting federal and state income tax refund, lottery winnings and up to 25% of unemployment insurance benefits.

Medical Support
The Department of Child Support Services will obtain and enforce an order for the non - custodial parent to add the child on their employer's health insurance plan.


Locating the Non - Custodial Parent
To obtain or enforce an order for support you must know where the non-custodial parent lives or works. If you do not have the address, the Department of Child Support Services will try to find it. They will follow up on information provided by you. Contacts will be made with other business and agencies as well as the California Parent Locator Service and the Federal Parent Locator Service.

Establishing Paternity
Every child has a right to the care and support from both parents -- even if the parents are not married. The Department of Child Support Services will file a civil action to establish paternity and obtain a support order to establish paternity and obtain a support order for your child. It may be necessary to have genetic tests performed and the matter may have to be tried in court. Paternity must be established before any attempt can be made to collect support.

Modification of Support Orders
The Department of Child Support Services will routinely review the order of support and the financial ability of the non - custodial parent. When it is appropriate, action will be taken to increase the amount of the support order.