How Can I Find Out What Is Happening With My Child Support in Florida?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support Enforcement is a federally funded program that enables parents to collect child support through state agencies. If you are trying to collect child support from a noncustodial parent living in Florida, the Florida Child Support Enforcement Agency will pursue the noncustodial parent to get the child support you need.
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About the Office of Child Support Enforcement
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The Office of Child Support Enforcement's mission is to get child support -- financial and medical -- to children by finding parents, establishing paternity and ensuring that noncustodial parents keep their support obligations. Every state in the U.S. has a division of Child Support Enforcement; they all work together to ensure that no child is left without support. The Office of Child Support Enforcement can even help you locate parents if they are in another country.
How to Get Help
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The system of Child Support Enforcement agencies is a free, federally funded program. The agency will work with you to establish paternity, get court orders for support and collect on child support orders. To start the process, you should contact the Child Support Enforcement agency in your state. Be prepared to appear in person at a local office and bring documentation with you such as the child's birth certificate or proof of paternity.
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How the Child Support Enforcement Agency Enforces Orders
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The Florida Child Support Enforcement Agency will enforce the child support order through a variety of means. Initially, the agency will notify the noncustodial parent about a missed payment. If the noncustodial parent fails to pay, the agency could have his driver's license suspended, his IRS tax return withheld or his paycheck garnished. Liens could be placed on his property and money could be deducted from his bank accounts. Everything possible will be done to ensure that you get the child support owed to you.
Contacts
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If you want to find out how the process in Florida is coming along, call the Florida Child Support Enforcement Agency at 1-800-622-5437. The customer service line is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard Time. The help line will answer your questions on your case including case status. If you aren't yet receiving child support services from the Florida Child Support Enforcement Agency, you can also call to find out how to get services.
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