Washington Child Support: How DCS Becomes Involved

A number of situations can trigger the 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 involvment. The following list outlines the circumstances that precede DCS involvment in cases involving public assistance.

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.

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.