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CHILD SUPPORT IN CONNECTICUT
IN CONNECTICUT CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT IS MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, BUREAU OF
CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT:
Regional Bureau of Child Support Enforcement (BCSE) offices at local DSS offices provide child support services, including intake of new cases, re-opening of existing cases, location of non-custodial parents, and the establishment of paternity and child support orders. BCSE is also responsible for the income tax intercept program and other administrative enforcement initiatives. Also, the Child Support Information Line is an automated response system that gives general information about child support services provided by the State of Connecticut, as well as specific information about an open case.
FEE: No fee for recipients of public assistance; If individual does not receive assistance there may be a small fee based on income
APPLICATION
To apply for child support services call nearest DSS/BCSE office. List of DSS offices: http://www.ct.gov/dss/cwp/view.asp?a=2345&q=304888
For general information or to find out about status of a payment, call the Automated Phone line (888-233-7223).
ELIGIBILITY
Child support services are available to custodial as well as non-custodial parents
TO MODIFY A CHILD SUPPORT ORDER:
To modify a child support order, the parent can do one of three things:
1) Hire an attorney to file the motion. Parent pays for the attorney, for the filing fees, and for a marshall to serve the other parent.
2) File a pro-se motion (file the papers without the help of an attorney). Parent pays for the filing fees and for a marshall to serve the other parent.
3) IF THE PARENT IS GETTING ENFORCEMENT SERVICES THROUGH THE STATE, he/she can ask the Judicial Branch's Support Enforcement Services to file the motion for them. This process takes longer than the first two routes, but there is no charge to the parent. The number for Support Enforcement Services at the Judicial Branch is (800)228-5437.
JUDICIAL BRANCH - CHILD SUPPORT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: http://www.jud.ct.gov/faq/child.html
CONNECTICUT CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT RESOURCE CENTER: http://www.ctchildsupport.com/default.asp
Connecticut's centralized payment processing center offers web based payment information, a list of frequently asked questions about child support payments, and a tool for making on-line child support payments.
THE Connecticut Attorney General's Office has a document written by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called "The Law in Plain Language: Child Support" that explains Connecticut's child support enforcement law. http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?A=2132&Q=294582.
THE U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES posts an online resource called "Handbook on Child Support Enforcement":
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/family/childenf/index.htm. This handbook discusses how to apply for child support enforcement services, establishing paternity, locating non-custodial parents, establishing and enforcing a child support order, working across state lines, and lists Child Support Enforcement offices in each state.
TO FIND CHILD SUPPORT ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY SERVICES DATABASE:
Search with service name Child Support Assistance/Enforcement, put in your town and click "Continue."
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PREPARED BY: 211/cdd
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2007
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