Getting Started

How to Establish Child Support Service

Who Qualifies and What is the Cost?

Custodial Parents Receiving TANF or Medicaid – No Fee
Custodial parents who are receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and custodial parents who are receiving Medicaid /Healthwise services along with one or more children receive Title IV-D services at no charge. These families are required to pursue Title IV-D child support services through their local county prosecutor’s office.

Custodial Parents Not Receiving TANF or Medicaid: $25 One-time Fee
Custodial parents who do not receive TANF or Medicaid are eligible to receive Title IV-D services for a one-time fee of $25. This fee must be paid with a money order that is made payable to the Indiana Department of Child Services.

Opening a File

No Existing Order
If there is no existing order, the Child Support Division opens a case after verifying that application information is correct. A hearing date is then set for the custodial and non-custodial parents and their child(ren) to appear in court.

Hearing/ Paternity Disputed
If the child or children are born of out wedlock, and if the alleged father of the child(ren) denies paternity, a DNA test will be ordered by the Court. The State of Indiana fronts the initial cost of the DNA sample, which is subject to reimbursement by the proven father.

If found to be the father, the results will be filed with the court and a hearing will be set for entry of a support order.

Hearing/Paternity Not Disputed
If the child or children are born of out wedlock, and a Paternity Affidavit(s) is on record, the Child Support Division will prepare a support petition and file it with the court. Both parents must then appear in court, during which a support and health insurance order will be entered.

Married but Separated
For parties who are married but separated, with no pending dissolution or separation action, the Child Support Division will prepare a support petition and file it with the court to establish support for the child(ren) born of the marriage. Both parents must then appear in court, during which a support and health insurance order will be entered.

Income Withholding and Making Payments
After a support order is issued, an income withholding order is entered and forwarded to the non-custodial parent’s employer immediately. Until payments are withheld from the non-custodial parent’s paycheck, it is the non-custodial parent’s responsibility to make payments for distribution to the custodial parent. The non-custodial parent should not send money directly to the custodial parent because the payment may not be regarded as a child support payment, but as a gift. Cash payments may be made to the clerk of the court at the courthouse in Warrick. Payments by check or money order may be made to the Indiana State Central Collection Unit.

Change of Employment and/or Address
If the non-custodial parent changes employment, the non-custodial parent needs to provide the Child Support Division with the name, address and phone number of the new employer. A change in employment may result in a delay of withheld income, but the non-custodial parent is still responsible to make child support payments, until he or she sees it coming out of his or her paycheck. The non-custodial parent is also responsible for reporting a new job or new home address to the Prosecutor’s Office by completing a form called a “XXXXXX”. This is available in our office or you may download it from this website. If you would like the form mailed to you, please call our office to make your request.

Continued Monitoring
The Child Support Division continues to monitor support payments and will take action if the non-custodial parent has missed four to six consecutive payments. If this occurs, a contempt hearing will be scheduled. If the Child Support Division cannot locate an employer of the non-custodial parent, the non-custodial parent must appear in court.

Indiana support orders remain in effect until one of the following occurs: