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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
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APPLYING FOR CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
- How do I apply for child support services?
How can I get an application for child support services?
Can I apply for child support services if my child’s father lives in another state?
SERVICES AVAILABLE
What Services are available?
SEARCHING FOR THE NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT
What if I don’t know where the father of my child is?
ESTABLISHING PATERNITY
Can I get support for my child if I was not married to my child’s father
at the time of my child’s birth?
OBTAINING A COURT ORDER FOR CHILD SUPPORT
How can I obtain a court order for support ?
ADJUSTING THE CHILD SUPPORT ORDER
Can I request a modification of my support order?
HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS
Is the Non-custodial parent required to provide health insurance?
PAYMENT COLLECTION AND DISBURSEMENT
When will I receive my child support payments?
Will I receive child support payments if I no longer receive TCA?
What if I never received TCA?
Can I have my child support payments directly deposited into my bank account?
Can I receive Direct Deposit if I don’t have a bank account?
How do I sign up for direct deposit or CashPay?
How will I know if I have received a payment?
How do I stop Direct Deposit or CashPay?
How long will it take to stop Direct Deposit or CashPay?
What should I do if my CashPay Visa card is lost or stolen?
1. How do I apply for child support services?
If you receive Temporary Cash Assistance or Medical Assistance, child
support services will be provided free of charge. If not, you will need to fill out
an application for child support services with your local child support
enforcement office and pay a fee of $25 when you file your application.
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2. How can I get an application for child support services?
You may go to your local child support office and request an
application in person, request in writing that a child support application
be mailed to you, call 1-800-332-6347 and an application will be
mailed to you or follow the link below to download an application.
Maryland Child Support Enforcement Program
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3. Can I apply for child support services if my child’s father lives in another state?
Yes, your child support enforcement office will work to collect support
for your child even if the non-custodial parent lives in another state or country.
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4. What Services are available?
There are a number of services available through your local child support
enforcement office:
- Searching for the other parent
- Legally establishing paternity
- Obtaining a court order for child support and health insurance coverage.
- Collecting support payments
- Reviewing and adjusting the court order
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5. What if I don’t know where the father of my child is?
If you cannot locate your child’s father, your local child support
enforcement office will conduct a search.
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6. Can I get support for my child if I was not married to my child’s father at the time of my child’s birth?
If you were not married to anyone at the time of your child’s birth, your child
support enforcement office will help you establish paternity and support.
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7. How can I obtain a court order for support ?
Your child support office has lawyers who will take your case to court so you
don’t need to hire a lawyer.
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8. Can I request a modification of my support order?
Yes, you or the non-custodial parent may request a periodic review of your
case for possible change in the court-ordered amount of your child support or
to include a provision requiring health insurance for the child. Print, complete and mail the Modifcation Request form to our agency.
Modification Form
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9. Is the Non-custodial parent required to provide health insurance?
Yes, if the court orders the non-custodial parent to provide health insurance.
If the non-custodial parent does not provide health insurance coverage, and if
he or she is employed, your child support your child support enforcement
office can send a copy of the Medical Support Notice to the employer. The
employer must enroll the child in any health insurance available to the non-
custodial parent and deduct the premiums from the non-custodial parents’
pay.
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10. When will I receive my child support payments?
All child support payments must come through the State Disbursement Unit
(SDU), the State’s centralized payment-processing unit. If you receive TCA,
and child support payments collected will be kept by the State as
reimbursement up to the amount of cash assistance you receive.
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11. Will I receive child support payments if I no longer receive TCA?
If you no longer receive TCA, any child support payments collected for current support and arrears owed to you will be mailed to you. If there were any arrears accrued while you were receiving TCA, the arrears are owed to the State and the State is entitled to keep monies from the non-custodial parent’s federal tax refund to repay the arrears.
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12. What if I never received TCA?
If you never received TCA payments, you will receive all monies collected. Payments will be mailed to you within 2 business days of receipt by the SDU.
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13. Can I have my child support payments directly deposited into my bank account?
Yes, we strongly encourage you to have your child support payments directly deposited into your bank account. Direct Deposit allows you get your child support faster and reduces the possibility of lost or stolen checks.
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14. Can I receive Direct Deposit if I don’t have a bank account?
Yes, you can sign up for a CashPay Visa Card. CashPay Visa is an ATM debit card that requires no credit check, and takes less than two minutes to apply for at your local child support office.
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15. How do I sign up for direct deposit or CashPay?
To receive a Direct Deposit or CashPay Enrollment Kit, call 1-800-332-6347, or stop by your local child support office. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for an enrollment kit to be mailed to your home.
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16. How will I know if I have received a payment?
Contact the Information Voice Response number for all payment information at 410-962-1110 or if out-of-state, 1-800-723-9937.
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17. How do I stop Direct Deposit or CashPay?
To stop or make changes to Direct Deposit or CashPay account, please call 1-800-6347. Our customer service team will mail you the appropriate form to stop or make changes to your Direct Deposit or CashPay account.
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18. How long will it take to stop Direct Deposit or CashPay?
All requests to stop or make changes must be received in writing and will occur within 21 days. Requests to stop Direct Deposit or CashPay will not be accepted over the phone.
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19. What should I do if my CashPay Visa card is lost or stolen?
To report your CashPay Visa card lost or stolen, you must follow steps 1 and 2:
- Please call 1-866-5CashPay (1-866-332-7472) or for hearing
impaired assistance, call TDD/TTY line at 1-866-898-9797.
- Contact our customer service team at 1-800-332-6347.
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