Services

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 $35 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 $550 or more in child support payments during the previous Federal Fiscal Year;
• The custodial party has not already paid the $35 child support annual fee in another state.