Case workers and attorneys in our office:
- Establish court orders for paternity, child support, and medical coverage;
- Locate the noncustodial parent and his/her assets to enforce the court order;
- Collect and distribute support payments;
- Maintain accounts of payments paid and due;
- Modify court orders when appropriate; and
- Determine and take appropriate actions to enforce court orders for child, family, spousal, and medical support.
Services not provided by Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS)
- We do not legally represent either the custodial or noncustodial party's interests. Our attorneys are not your attorneys.
- We cannot assist with visitation or custody issues.
- We cannot obtain divorce decrees nor represent either party in a divorce action.
- We cannot establish or modify spousal support orders.
- We cannot obtain or enforce restraining orders, except those orders which include child support.
Annual Fee: The Federal Deficit Reduction Act requires DCSS to collect a $25 annual fee for services provided in child support cases where:
- The family has never received cash assistance benefits such as TANF, CalWorks, or AFDC;
- The custodial party has received $500 or more in child support payments during the previous Federal Fiscal Year;
- The custodial party has not already paid the $25 child support annual fee in another state.