The Massachusetts Department of Revenue has a Child Support Services Division (DOR/CSS). The DOR/CSS gets child support orders, helps parents change child support orders, and makes sure that parents pay their child support orders. You can apply to DOR/CSS for help.
DOR/CSS can:
- work with parents to get a child support order;
- work with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to get a child support order;
- help find the other parent;
- figure out who the father of a child is – “paternity”;
- go to court to get child support orders;
- collect child support and send it to the parent the child lives with;
- review child support orders for possible changes;
- go to court to ask to change child support orders;
- make sure parents pay the child support by:
- increasing the amount of child support taken from the parent’s paycheck by up to 25%;
- charging interest on past-due child support;
- seizing a parent’s property;
- taking a parent’s tax refund;
- levying a parent's bank account;
- taking a parent's driver's license or professional license;
- reporting overdue child support to credit reporting agencies; and
- taking a parent to court.
DOR/CSS does not:
- deal with custody, parenting time, or visitation;
- hire private investigators to see if a parent is hiding money;
- make parents obey alimony orders unless it is part of a child support order;
- make parents pay child support by bringing criminal charges, except in very special situations.
Important
Even if DOR/CSS brings a child support case for you in court, they are not your lawyer. DOR/CSS does not represent either parent in court. Their job is to get the right amount of child support for your child.
When you apply to the DOR/CSS for child support, they file the forms at court for you. Filing the forms starts the court case.
If you do not know where the other parent is or who the father is, DOR/CSS needs to know before they can get child support. They will try to find the father and they will file a paternity case to find out who your child’s father is.
DOR/CSS must let the other parent know when they start a case. This is called “serving.”
DOR/CSS sets up the court date.
DOR/CSS tells you and the other parent the date you both need to be at the court hearing. In most cases, the hearing will be online. The court will send you the link for the online hearing. If you are unable to do an online hearing, tell the DOR attorney as soon as possible.
A DOR/CSS lawyer will be at the court hearing. The DOR/CSS lawyer asks the judge to make an order for child support.
Even though the DOR/CSS files the child support case for you, you still must fill out paperwork. The DOR/CSS gives you the forms. Make sure to fill out all the forms and return them to the DOR/CSS.
DOR/CSS has a form called “Child Support Intake Form & Application for Full Child Support Services."
This form includes all the information DOR/CSS needs. It also includes answers to frequently asked questions.
You can also fill out this form online at the CSS Case Manager website.
If you do not feel safe because of the other parent, tell the DOR. Tell them that you do not want the other parent to know where you live.
The parent who is required to pay child support is called a payor.
Making sure that parents obey child support orders is called “enforcement.” DOR/CSS can take many actions, including going to court, if a parent is not following a child support order. This includes:
Increasing the amount held from the payor's paycheck by 25%
When the court makes a child support order, the judge also orders a “wage assignment.” The wage assignment orders the paying parent’s employer to take the child support out of the parent’s wages and send it to DOR/CSS. DOR/CSS then sends the child support to the parent who is supposed to get it. DOR/CSS can increase the wage assignment by 25% if a payor is not paying.
Charging interest and penalties
DOR/CSS can charge interest and penalties on past due child support over $500. A payor may be able to get an exemption in certain situations, including hardship, being on public assistance, or if your child lives with you. Learn more on DOR's website.
Placing a lien on real estate or personal property
A lien means that if the payor sells their property, money from the sale will go to paying the overdue child support.
Seizing property
DOR/CSS can take away property such as
- Financial assets,
- Car,
- Vacation home,
- Boat,
- Lottery winnings,
- Funds from bank accounts – that is called “levying” your bank account,
- Business or personal property.
Intercepting payments
DOR/CSS can also take (“ intercept”)
- State and federal income tax refunds,
- Insurance claims,
- Unemployment compensation payments,
- Worker’s compensation payments,
- Public pension payments.
Levying bank accounts
DOR/CSS can “levy” your bank account. This means that the bank must take the child support that you owe out of your account and send it to the DOR/CSS. See DOR enforcement actions.
Suspending licenses
- Business license,
- Trade license,
- Professional license,
- motor vehicle registration
- Driver’s license. See DOR enforcement actions.
Filing a Complaint for Contempt
The DOR/CSS can file a Complaint for Contempt against a payor if they do not pay child support. A judge will decide how much money the payor owes at a court hearing. See What if DOR/CSS files a complaint for contempt.
Reporting child support debt to credit reporting agencies
If you owe child support, and you want to challenge steps DOR is taking to collect, see What if I owe child support and DOR is involved.
DOR/CSS can:
- work with parents to get a child support order;
- work with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) to get a child support order;
- help find the other parent;
- figure out who the father of a child is – “paternity”;
- go to court to get child support orders;
- collect child support and send it to the parent the child lives with;
- review child support orders for possible changes;
- go to court to ask to change child support orders;
- make sure parents pay the child support by:
- increasing the amount of child support taken from the parent’s paycheck by up to 25%;
- charging interest on past-due child support;
- seizing a parent’s property;
- taking a parent’s tax refund;
- levying a parent's bank account;
- taking a parent's driver's license or professional license;
- reporting overdue child support to credit reporting agencies; and
- taking a parent to court.
DOR/CSS does not:
- deal with custody, parenting time, or visitation;
- hire private investigators to see if a parent is hiding money;
- make parents obey alimony orders unless it is part of a child support order;
- make parents pay child support by bringing criminal charges, except in very special situations.
Important
Even if DOR/CSS brings a child support case for you in court, they are not your lawyer. DOR/CSS does not represent either parent in court. Their job is to get the right amount of child support for your child.
When you apply to the DOR/CSS for child support, they file the forms at court for you. Filing the forms starts the court case.
If you do not know where the other parent is or who the father is, DOR/CSS needs to know before they can get child support. They will try to find the father and they will file a paternity case to find out who your child’s father is.
DOR/CSS must let the other parent know when they start a case. This is called “serving.”
DOR/CSS sets up the court date.
DOR/CSS tells you and the other parent the date you both need to be at the court hearing. In most cases, the hearing will be online. The court will send you the link for the online hearing. If you are unable to do an online hearing, tell the DOR attorney as soon as possible.
A DOR/CSS lawyer will be at the court hearing. The DOR/CSS lawyer asks the judge to make an order for child support.
Even though the DOR/CSS files the child support case for you, you still must fill out paperwork. The DOR/CSS gives you the forms. Make sure to fill out all the forms and return them to the DOR/CSS.
DOR/CSS has a form called “Child Support Intake Form & Application for Full Child Support Services."
This form includes all the information DOR/CSS needs. It also includes answers to frequently asked questions.
You can also fill out this form online at the CSS Case Manager website.
If you do not feel safe because of the other parent, tell the DOR. Tell them that you do not want the other parent to know where you live.
The parent who is required to pay child support is called a payor.
Making sure that parents obey child support orders is called “enforcement.” DOR/CSS can take many actions, including going to court, if a parent is not following a child support order. This includes:
Increasing the amount held from the payor's paycheck by 25%
When the court makes a child support order, the judge also orders a “wage assignment.” The wage assignment orders the paying parent’s employer to take the child support out of the parent’s wages and send it to DOR/CSS. DOR/CSS then sends the child support to the parent who is supposed to get it. DOR/CSS can increase the wage assignment by 25% if a payor is not paying.
Charging interest and penalties
DOR/CSS can charge interest and penalties on past due child support over $500. A payor may be able to get an exemption in certain situations, including hardship, being on public assistance, or if your child lives with you. Learn more on DOR's website.
Placing a lien on real estate or personal property
A lien means that if the payor sells their property, money from the sale will go to paying the overdue child support.
Seizing property
DOR/CSS can take away property such as
- Financial assets,
- Car,
- Vacation home,
- Boat,
- Lottery winnings,
- Funds from bank accounts – that is called “levying” your bank account,
- Business or personal property.
Intercepting payments
DOR/CSS can also take (“ intercept”)
- State and federal income tax refunds,
- Insurance claims,
- Unemployment compensation payments,
- Worker’s compensation payments,
- Public pension payments.
Levying bank accounts
DOR/CSS can “levy” your bank account. This means that the bank must take the child support that you owe out of your account and send it to the DOR/CSS. See DOR enforcement actions.
Suspending licenses
- Business license,
- Trade license,
- Professional license,
- motor vehicle registration
- Driver’s license. See DOR enforcement actions.
Filing a Complaint for Contempt
The DOR/CSS can file a Complaint for Contempt against a payor if they do not pay child support. A judge will decide how much money the payor owes at a court hearing. See What if DOR/CSS files a complaint for contempt.
Reporting child support debt to credit reporting agencies
If you owe child support, and you want to challenge steps DOR is taking to collect, see What if I owe child support and DOR is involved.