Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement

Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement

By Child-Support.com Staff – Last updated

In order to enforce child support payments in Massachusetts, the Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) of the Department of Revenue needs as much information as possible about the non-custodial parent and existing child support orders. CSED may be able to use this information to track down a missing parent, institute wage withholding or license suspension in order to encourage the non-custodial parent to fulfill his or her obligation to financially support his or her children.

How to File a Complaint

In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, parents are obligated to financially support their children, even if they do not live with the children. A custodial parent may file an application with CSED to commence enforcement proceedings if the non-custodial parent is not making child support payments as directed by a child support order.  The more information you provide to CSED about existing orders, the other parent and the children involved, the more likely they will be able to help you. The first step is to fill out an application.  Massachusetts has both a paper application and an online application.  The following are instructions for filling in and filing a paper application.

How to Fill In

Step 1: Download the application

Download (PDF, 363KB)

Step 2: Read the disclosure information in Part 1.

Step 3: On page 1 of Part 2, check whether you want full child support services or not then enter the following information about yourself:

  • Relationship to children
  • Whether the children live with you
  • Name
  • Home Address
  • Mailing Address
  • Social Security Number
  • Driver’s License #
  • Date of Birth
  • E-Mail Address
  • Home Phone #
  • Cell Phone #
  • Work Phone #
  • Employer Name
  • Employer Address
  • Were the mother and father of the children ever married to each other?
  • If yes, what is the current relationship of the children’s parents?

Step 4: On the next page, enter the following information about the other parent:

  • Relationship of the other parent to the children
  • Name
  • Home Address
  • Mailing Address
  • If the other parent is incarcerated, what is the name and address of the prison?
  • Social Security Number
  • Driver’s License #
  • Date of Birth
  • E-Mail Address
  • Home Phone #
  • Cell Phone #
  • Work Phone #
  • Employer Name Current Last Known
  • Employer Address
  • Other Parent’s Mother’s Maiden Name
  • Make, Model & Year of Other Parent’s Car

Step 5: Enter the following information about each child:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Place of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Sex
  • Name of father on birth certificate
  • With whom does the child live?

Step 6: Enter the following information about court orders

  • Is there a court order for child support and/or medical support?
  • Name of Court
  • Court Address
  • Date of Most Recent Order
  • Amount of Order
  • Docket #
  • Who is currently providing health insurance for the children?

Step 7: On the next page enter information about domestic violence and emergency contacts, then sign it and date it and send the comleted form with requisite copies to the following address:

DOR/CSE, P.O. Box 7057, Boston, MA 02204-7057

What CSED Can Do

CSED can take a number of actions to help with child support issues, including the following:

  • Locate parents
  • Establish paternity for your child under 18 years of age
  • Establish a child support and a medical support order for your child
  • Enforce child support and medical support orders by identifying employers and issuing income withholding and medical support orders.
  • Collect and distribute payments via direct deposit or debit card.
  • Monitor payments for compliance.
  • Collect past-due child support until paid in full by taking the following actions as appropriate
  • Increase the amount of income withholding by 25%
  • Seize bank accounts
  • Intercept state and federal tax refunds, insurance claims, worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation or lottery winnings
  • Suspend driver’s, business, trade, or professional licenses or motor vehicle registrations
  • Send the case to the U.S. Department of State to deny issuance or renewal of a passport
  • Place liens on real estate and personal property
  • Seize real estate and personal property
  • Report the parent’s debt to credit reporting agencies
  • Send the case to a collection agency
  • Seek civil contempt of court (the court may order participation in a seek work program or incarceration)
  • Initiate prosecution for criminal nonsupport
  • Assist you in asking the court to modify the amount of your child support order (either upward or downward)
  • Work with child support agencies in other states, if necessary.

Contact CSED

Address:

 DOR/CSE, P.O. Box 7057, Boston, MA 02204-7057

Phone:  800-332-2733