Legal Definitions - child-support-enforcement agency

A child-support-enforcement agency is a government agency that assists custodial parents in collecting child support payments from non-custodial parents. This agency is established under Title IV(D) of the Social Security Act and is required by law to be present in every state.

The agency can help locate a missing parent, establish paternity, and enforce support orders. It operates through various state departments such as the Department of Human Services, Department of Justice, tax agency, or Attorney General's office.

For example, if a custodial parent is not receiving child support payments from the non-custodial parent, they can contact the child-support-enforcement agency in their state for assistance. The agency will work to establish a support order and enforce it, ensuring that the child receives the financial support they need.

Another example is if a custodial parent is having trouble locating the non-custodial parent, the child-support-enforcement agency can help by using their resources to locate them. This is important because without a non-custodial parent's financial support, the custodial parent may struggle to provide for the child's basic needs.

Overall, the child-support-enforcement agency plays a crucial role in ensuring that children receive the financial support they need from both parents.