What is a DCS Child Support Order?

A Washington DCS child support order is an administrative order that sets child support without the need for initial superior court intervention. This means that DCS has the power to force you to pay child support without a formal superior court order. DCS establishes thousands of administrative child support orders every year.

When DCS becomes Involved

As you now know, DCS establishes thousands of administrative child support orders every year. A number of situations can trigger involvement of DCS in a child support matter. In fact, the way that you defend against DCS, depends upon the correct identification of their original involvement in your action.

Public Assistance

Public assistance cases are the most common entry points for DCS involvement. The following list outlines the circumstances that precede DCS involvement in cases involving public assistance. DCS will order child support be paid by one or both parents if DSHS pays public assistance or provides foster care services, or if a parent who previously received public assistance is eligible for child support enforcement services.

DCS has 60 days from the date public assistance is paid to serve you with a Notice and Finding of Financial Responsibility.

Request of Parent

If the other parent (usually the mother) requests help from DCS in collecting child support or enforcing a child support order, DCS will help.

Existing Wage Garnishment

If your existing child support order or wage garnishment requires you to make support payments to the child support registry, DCS will get involved. Remember that the Washington State Child Support Registry is the unit within DCS responsible for many administrative and collection functions.

Existing Child Support Order

If you have a current child support order that has been submitted to the Washington State Support Registry, DCS may get involved with the enforcement of the child support order.

Former Custodial Parent

If a parent who used to have custody applies for child support assistance for the time that one or more of the children lived with them, DCS may help.

Agency of Another State

DCS will help if a child support agency of another state requests it. There are a set of rules that govern the interstate collection of child support; known as the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA).

Agency of an Indian Tribe

DCS will assist child support agencies of Indian tribes upon request.