Child Support Process
Understanding Child Support
We partner with parents and the community in delivering reliable services and work to make a positive difference in the lives of children. We work with both parents to help provide the best situation for children through San Bernardino County. Children do better when both parents are involved, even when they are no longer together.
HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER:
- Establish legal parentage
- Establish an order for child and/or medical support
- Keep record of your payments
- Review orders if your income, custody or family size has changed
- Connect you with other community resources
Child Support Services
What services does the Department of Child Support help with?
- Locating Parents
- Establishing paternity (legal fatherhood)
- Establishing/maintaining support orders
- Enforcing orders in other states or countries
Services DO NOT include
The Child Support Process
- Open A CaseOpen A Case
- ParentageParentage
- EstablishmentEstablishment
- CourtCourt
- PaymentsPayments
- EnforcementEnforcement
- Modify Your CaseModify Your Case
- Close Your CaseClose Your Case

Who can Open A Case?
Ways to Open A Case
Loma Linda Child Support Office
10417 Mountain View Ave.
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Ontario Child Support Office
191 N. Vineyard Ave.
Ontario, CA 91764-4497
Victorville Child Support Office
15400 Civic Drive
Victorville, CA 92392
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Important
Why Does Parentage Need to be Established?
Parentage is the recognition of a parent’s legal relationship to a child. Establishing parentage is important to ensure that children have access to benefits afforded to their parents, such as health insurance and other benefits. Additionally, establishing parentage provides parents with the rights and responsibilities associated with parenthood.
There are two options for unmarried parents to establish parentage rights and responsibility:
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Summons and Complaint
The paying parent will be served with a Summons and Complaint packet that will include a proposed child support amount based on the State guidelines
. The State guidelines provide a standard formula for determining the child support amount, although the court may change the amount under limited circumstance. Once served with the summons and complaint packet the paying parent should file an answer within 30 days.
Establishing an Order
To establish parentage, obtain a support order, or collect child support, our office must know where the paying parent lives or works. By providing our office with as much information as possible, you can help locate the paying parent and speed up the child support process.
If the paying parent is located, and there is no court order, we will file a legal action in court to obtain an order for child and medical support.
Support Factors
To determine the correct child support amount, the court uses State guidelines.
Child Support is based on several factors including:
Proceedings for an order
A child support order is established in the following ways:
Agreement by the Parents (Stipulation)
If both parents reach an agreement on the amount of child support, you will sign a stipulation and will not be required to go to court. By signing the stipulation, the parents agree to all items that apply: fatherhood/parentage, the amount of child support and health insurance. The stipulation will be filed with the court.
Court Hearing
If the parents do not agree or the paying parent files an answer, the amount of child support will be decided by the court. Both parents will be notified of the hearing by mail.
Default Judgment
If the paying parent does not file an answer or appear in court, the court will enter a default judgment. The court may enter a default judgment and set the child support amount without your input.
Establishing Medical Support
California law requires parents to provide health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for the child(ren) if medical insurance is available through an employer at a reasonable cost. Any expenses not covered by insurances may be shared by the parents based on a 50-50 split (50% to each parent) based on the court order.
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Court Proceedings
What you can expect when you arrive to court:
Court Documents
The court will need proof of your income and other factors to use to calculate how much child support should be paid. The following documents should be filed with the Court and served on the other parties at least two weeks before your court date. If there is no way you can get the documents filed and served before, at least bring them with you to court:
Tips for Court Appearance
The following tips provide guidance in regards to your appearance, behavior as well as court expectations.
File Paperwork
Carefully review, complete, file and serve the required paperwork (including any Responses or Answers) with the court before your hearing. Include verification of income, medical insurance and proof of childcare costs and proof of payment of childcare (i.e. receipts).
Be on Time
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled court hearing. If you are running late, you must call the court or your case may move forward without your input or the hearing may be cancelled.
Be Respectful
You may have the opportunity to speak to the Child Support Commissioner to explain your situation. Direct your comments to the Commissioner only, not the other parent.
Prepare to Stay All Day
The court conducts many hearings. Be prepared to stay the entire day.
Dress to Impress
Dress nicely. Tank tops, shorts, sandals and hats are not allowed in the courtroom.
Representation
No one except you or your attorney may represent you in court.
To request a continuance/running late: (Call as soon as possible)
Barstow, CA 92311
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Parent Receiving Child Support
Receiving Payments
The State Disbursement Unit (SDU) provides the following options for receiving support payments:
Register For Direct Deposit and Electronic Pay Card
With the EPC, you can receive support payments easier, faster and have access to the funds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To register
Department of Child Support Services
P.O. Box 989064,
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9064
Parent Paying Child Support
- Update contact information
- Get payment history and information
- Print child support forms
- Change Customer Connect PIN
Payment Options
The button below, will send you to a page with more information about the multiple payment options available to parents.
If you have questions about any of the payment options, please contact a child support professional by email from within Customer Connect or by phone at (866) 901-3212.
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Enforcing a Child Support Order
Enforcing a Child Support Order may occur by various methods, depending on individual case specific circumstances.
Please consider
In California monthly child support is charged and collected until the child reaches emaciation which is the age of eighteen and graduated from high school; however, support may extend after the eighteenth birthday if the child remains a full-time high school student. in this situation, support will continue to the date of the child’s graduation or nineteenth birthday, whichever occurs first.
Collection Tools
The following Collection Tools are actions that maybe implemented to secure payment.
Income Withholding Order
All child support orders are required by law to be paid through an Income Withholding Order (IWO), also known as a wage assignment. If the parent paying child support is employed, the IWO will be sent directly to their employer. The employer will then deduct up to the amount requested but cannot exceed 50% of the gross income. This deduction is then sent by the employer directly to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU). If the paying parent is self-employed or works for cash, they are personally obligated to send payments directly to the SDU.
Workers’ Compensation
When a paying parent has a Workers’ Compensation claim, up to 25% of ongoing temporary workers’ compensation benefits can be withheld by Income Withholding Order (IWO) to pay current support and arrears. A lien may also be filed with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) to satisfy any arrears that may have accumulated from the date the paying parent was injured.
License Suspension
Delinquent child support cases are reported to all state licensing boards. The paying parent’s application for a new or renewed professional and or recreational licenses (for example cosmetologist, contractor, doctor, teacher, attorney, fishing or hunting) will be denied if payment arrangements have not been made with our department.
Bank Levy
A request may be submitted to a banking institution to remove funds from a bank account, Individual Retirement Accounts, and other financial securities. Bank levies sent to the financial institution will request the full amount of the arrears owed.
If you have questions about collections, please contact a child support professional by email from within Customer Connect or by phone at (866) 901-3212.
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Requirements to Modify an Existing Order
You may request a change in the child support order when there has been a change of circumstance which may include:
If you have multiple child support cases, all will be reviewed.
Changing a Child Support Order
A change to a child support order is a modification. Either parent can ask for a change to the order.
The Modification Process
If you have questions about modification, please contact a child support professional by email from within Customer Connect or by phone at (866) 901-3212.
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.

Closing A Child Support Case
You may be eligible for a case closure. To request that DCSS stop enforcing your court order, your case must meet the following criteria. Please read below:
DCSS closing your case
The department may initiate closure of a case for any of the following reasons:
To request that DCSS stop enforcing your court order
A person receiving support can request their case to be reviewed for the purpose of closure. The following information on requesting a stop to a support order and how it applies to different types of support cases.
Public Assistance Cases
Non-public assistance cases
Medical Enforcement Only
For more information on Parent Resources, please visit our Resources for Parents page.