Get Child Support Safely (Office of the Attorney General Child Support Division)

The child support process begins when the Child Support Division receives an application for child support services or a referral from a public assistance program. Your local child support office works to locate the other parent, legally formalize parentage, set the order and route the collected funds to the parent owed support.

The Child Support Division accepts applications from mothers, fathers or any person that has taken the responsibility of caring for a child.

If you choose to move forward, it is important to have some basic information about child support orders:

A child support court will establish an order for all the following:

• Financial support (child support).
• Medical support.
• Dental support.
• Conservatorship (custody).
• Visitation (parenting time).

When you apply, the other parent receives notice that a child support case has been opened.

Check the "Important Safety Information" box on the top of the application and tell child support staff about your safety concerns.

When a child support case opens, the locate process automatically begins. Locate refers to the processes by which the name, date of birth, social security number, home address (mailing and/or residential), employer, telephone number, and income or assets of both parents are identified, verified and documented.

Employers, friends or relatives may be contacted if locating the other parent is required.

Learn more about how the Child Support Division locates the other parent at Child Support Parent Locator Services.

Ask the child support office representative when and how the other parents will be contacted.

One of the most important parts of a child support case is establishing legal fatherhood (paternity).

Important: Both parents need to be aware that once paternity is established in a court order, it is difficult to change. For more information visit Mistaken Paternity.

• Marriage: If a child is born while two people are married or within 300 days of their divorce, the husband, or the ex-husband, of the mother will be presumed to be the legal father of the child(ren).

• Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity: Parents who want to establish legal rights of the father to his child(ren) can voluntarily establish paternity with an Acknowledgment of Paternity.

• Court-Ordered Paternity: The court may order genetic testing if you were not married when the child was born or do not have an Acknowledgment of Paternity.

• Agreed Paternity Order: If parents agree, the court can establish paternity through an order.

A genetic paternity test may be required to determine paternity. To stay safe, ask to arrange a different testing time or location from the other parent.

A child support order establishes the amount of child, medical and dental support the other parent must pay monthly. In Texas, child support orders also address conservatorship (custody) and parenting time (visitation).

There are two main legal processes used to establish a child support order:

1. Child Support Review Process (CSRP). The Child Support Review Process (CSRP) is an in-person or virtual meeting with both parties. It is the standard process for all cases not marked with a family violence indicator.

   You may be asked to meet with the other parent in-person or virtually.

   If both parties agree to the terms, the order will be sent to a judge for final signature. If both parties cannot come to an agreement during the CSRP about the child support order, the case will be scheduled for a court hearing.

   You do not have to sign anything you do not agree with at a CSRP.

2. Court Process. Child support cases may be heard in court if:

   One of the parties is a victim of family violence and notifies the Child Support Division that they have safety concerns.

   The parties did not come to an agreement during their Child Support Review Process.

   One of the parties is a minor.

   The Child Support Division determines that the court process is most appropriate based on circumstances of the case.

If your case is set for court, you will receive notice in the mail or will be formally served, by a constable or process server, with notice paperwork including your court date, time and location.

The enforcement process means that a court order already exists on your case and that the Child Support Division is involved with ensuring that the child, medical and dental support obligations are met each month.

The child support division can enforce child support payment orders. It cannot enforce parenting time (custody and visitation) orders.

The enforcement of a case is not based solely on the number of payments missed or the balance on a case. The Child Support Division will look at all factors of the case, including:

• The payment status on the case.

• How many delinquency letters have been sent.

• Whether a response has been received to any delinquency notices.

• If an employer has been located.

• Whether all other administrative remedies have been taken on the case.

• If there is good location for the noncustodial parent.

The Child Support Division will use the tools available, including but not limited to income withholding, liens and asking the court to enforce the court order. Some of these enforcement tools may pose risks for you and your child(ren). Learn about the types of enforcement tools used to collect child support.

Once the Child Support Division has tried to collect support on a case through the administrative remedies, such as passport denial, credit bureau reporting or license suspension, the Child Support Division may review the case for further enforcement, which can include filing for legal action.

It’s always important to stay in touch with the Child Support Division. If the other parent fails to meet the full obligation, please chat with the Child Support Division at or call 800-252-8014 so the Child Support Division can begin the enforcement process.

You can view details about your case, including payment history, by logging into your Online Account.

Note: A parent cannot be penalized by the Child Support Division for not following the parenting time order. Legal action outside the Child Support Division can be taken against a parent for denying access during their visitation time.

If you have questions about parenting time (access and visitation), please visit TXAccess.org or call the Texas Access and Visitation Hotline at 866-292-4636. Calls are answered in English and Spanish, Monday to Friday, 1 PM to 5 PM.

The Child Support Division offers a case review every three years; however, either party may request a review at any time if a change in circumstance occurs. Generally, this means that at least one of the following things has happened:

• The income for the parent paying support has increased or decreased resulting in the current child support obligation to differ by 20% or $100 monthly.

• The parent paying support has become legally responsible for supporting additional child(ren) since the last order.

• The child(ren)'s medical or dental insurance coverage has changed.

• The child(ren) is primary living with the noncustodial parent.

Learn more about the modification process.

If you would like to request a modification to your order, you can complete one of the following options:

• Complete the online request.

• Download the Child Support Review Questionnaire and return it to any office for review.

• Contact the Child Support Division’s customer service chat or at 800-252-8014 to request the forms be mailed to you.

Once the Child Support Division has received the forms, the case and current net income will be reviewed to see if the child support obligation qualifies for a modification. A review can take as long as six months.

If it is determined that the child support obligation should change or that the medical/dental support language needs to be updated, then a Child Support Review Process appointment or court date will be scheduled.

Changing the visitation or custody arrangements in an order usually requires that you contact an attorney.

If your case involves family violence, it is important that you contact an attorney who is knowledgeable about family law and family violence.

For information on changing your order and legal aid in your area, you can:

• Contact Texas Advocacy Project at 800-374-HOPE (4673), or

• Visit the TexasLawHelp.org directory and learn about changing your child custody and support orders.

It may help to keep a record of parental misconduct if the other parent:

• Is violating the order;

• Constantly skips or is late to visitation time; or

• Uses the visitation time and exchange of the child(ren) to harass you.

Note: Getting a protective order does not necessarily modify any existing court orders between you and the other parent. If you apply for a protective order from the other parent, inform your attorney and the court of an existing order.

You have the following options. Whatever you do, you must submit notify the court, the Child Support Division, and the other parent in writing.

De novo hearing. A request for a de novo hearing must be filed with the district court no later than the third working day after the court order is signed. To file for this hearing, you must submit letters in writing to the court, the Child Support Division, and the other parent.

A de novo hearing will happen at the district court with a different judge than the judge who heard your case initially.

Motion for New Trial: If you miss the deadline for filing a de novo appeal, you can file a Motion for New Trial with the same court that heard your case initially. The Motion for New Trial must be filed within 30 days after your court order is signed.

If you feel like you were denied full access to the court, there are alternatives you can consider:

• If the judge denied you access to the court (i.e., the judge did not allow you to speak or give your testimony, the judge refused to appoint an interpreter when requested at court) you can file a complaint of judicial misconduct.

• If you were dissatisfied with the level of treatment you received from any Child Support Division employee, you can file a complaint with the Child Support Division.

If any of the following apply, tell any Child Support Division staff that you have safety concerns.

• You have a protective order, police report or other supporting documents.
• You have concerns negotiating with the other parent.

Important! Tell the Child Support Division about your safety concerns at any time during the child support process. Chat with Child Support Division or call (800)252-8014.

• Complete the “Important Safety Information” section on the child support application.
• Complete and return a Request for Nondisclosure.
• Call or chat with the Child Support Division and inform them of your concerns.

These resources offer comprehensive support for individuals and families affected by domestic abuse. These services suggest counseling, legal assistance and community outreach programs.

National Domestic Violence Hotline

The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides highly trained advocates 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. Interpreters are available in over 200 languages.

800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 800-787-3224

Texas Health and Human Services

The Texas HHSC Family Violence Program Resource Page provides a list of family violence centers in the state and other helpful resources for support. It also has information about rights and options for those experiencing family violence.

Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV)

TCFV is the statewide coalition against domestic violence, which provides support to service providers, public policy advocacy and prevention efforts. TCFV provides technical assistance on child support issues as well as other issues related to family violence.

512-794-1133

Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)

TAASA is committed to ending sexual violence in Texas through education, prevention and advocacy. In the meantime, they support survivors on their paths to hope, healing and justice.

(512)474-7190

Texas Abuse Hotline

Anyone who has reasonable cause to believe a child, or person 65 years or older, or an adult with disabilities is being abused, neglected or exploited can report through the Texas Abuse Hotline secure website. Call the Texas Abuse Hotline at (800)252-5400 when the situation is urgent and needs to be investigated within 24 hours. Call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency or life-threatening situation.

The A&V Hotline provides free legal information about conservatorship and visitation issues. Hotline Parenting Time Specialists do not represent callers or offer legal advice. Calls are answered in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday, 1 PM to 5 PM CT.

866-292-4636

Chat online with a family law attorney at Parenting Order Legal Line (POLL) Live Chat on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 PM to 5 PM CT and Fridays from 1 PM to 3 PM CT. Attorneys can answer questions related to parenting time orders. In some situations, attorneys may review parenting time orders and offer legal advice.

TexasLawHelp.org provides free legal information and forms and resources for legal services to low-income Texans.

The Texas Advocacy Project Hope Legal Line provides free legal and social services to victims of intimate partner violence, dating violence, sexual, stalking, child abuse and human trafficking statewide.

800-374-HOPE (4673)

LASSA is a statewide collaboration of legal aid organizations that provide free and confidential legal services for survivors of sexual assault.

844-303-7233, Option 1

• Get Child Support Safely (View the form in English/ View the form in Spanish)
• Child Support Information for Family Violence Survivors (View the form in English/ View the form in Spanish)
• Request for Nondisclosure

ACP provides a substitute post office box and a free forwarding service to victims of family violence to help keep their actual addresses confidential. Applicants must meet with a local domestic violence shelter, sexual assault center, law enforcement or prosecution staff member to enroll in the program.

(888)832-2322

HHSC provides services centered around aging, disability, financial, health, mental health, substance use and safety services for Texans.

2-1-1 or 877-541-7905

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works with communities to promote safe and healthy families and protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

800-252-5400

The Texas Parenting Helpline provides advice and practical tips on navigating parenthood. Articles, videos and resources cover a wide range of topics, from newborn care to teenage behavior.

833-680-0611

NRFC serves as a national repository and distribution center for timely and relevant information and research related to Promoting Responsible Fatherhood programs. The NRFC is NOT able to intervene in individual cases involving domestic violence or other legal matters.

877-4-DAD-411 or 877-432-3411

Crime Victims Services provides information, resources or financial assistance for crime victims and their families.

Toll Free: 800-983-9933

Austin: 512-936-1200

The Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime Section is fighting to end human trafficking in the state of Texas through aggressive criminal prosecution and civil actions to hold offenders accountable. This section also aims to raise public awareness about the threat human trafficking presents to Texas by providing training, educating lawmakers and partnering with community stakeholders.

You can apply in person at a child support office, online, or call 800-252-8014 to request that an application be mailed to you. If you have safety concerns or a history of family violence, answer “yes” to the “Important Safety Information” section in the application.

Applying for Child Support Through the Office of the Attorney General

In order to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or adult Medicaid, you must provide information about the other parent to your HHSC eligibility worker AND you will be required to cooperate with the Child Support Division in obtaining child, medical and dental support from the other parent of your child(ren), unless you are granted a Good Cause Waiver from this requirement.

Applying for or Receiving TANF or Adult Medicaid

If you receive notice of a case because the other parent has applied for child support services, be sure to report family violence to the Child Support Division as soon as possible by contacting the statewide child support call center at 800-252-8014 or by chat.

The child support process can move quickly, so it is important to let the Child Support Division know about your safety concerns immediately.

Receiving Services Because the Other Parent has Applied for Child Support

Keep in mind that even though the Child Support Division will take steps to keep parents separated during court, you may still see the other parent. If an in-person hearing is required, you may have to stand before the judge near the other parent or participate in a virtual environment where the other parent may also be present.

Preparing for Court and the Court Process

Both parents must comply with the court’s order. This means that the person ordered to pay child support must pay child support and the person with primary custody must allow any visitation that is ordered. However, the Child Support Division cannot enforce or modify the visitation that is ordered.

Following or Modifying a Child Support Order