Child Support is an obligation of a parent to provide emotional, financial, and medical support for a child or children.

Federal law requires all states to have a child support enforcement program. In Louisiana, the program is administered by the Department of Social Services, Office of Family Support, Support Enforcement Services (SES).  Support Enforcement Services places the responsibility for support of children on their parent’s in an attempt to reduce the children's dependence on public assistance.

Child support cases are generally assigned to three categories: intake, collections or parent locate. An intake case is one in which an order for support and/or paternity has not yet been established. A collection case is one in which an enforceable order for support exists. A case in parent locate is one in which the location, place of employment, or assets of the noncustodial parent are unknown.

• Louisiana's Delinquent Payors

What Services are Provided?

There are five basic types of services that support enforcement offers: 

• Parent Locator Service
• Paternity Establishment
• Establishing Orders (Guidelines for Determination Of Child Support)
• Enforcing Orders
• Collection and Distribution

Who Can Get Help?

• Any parent or person responsible for a child who needs our services.
• Anyone who receives FITAP, KCSP, or is referred to SES by Medicaid automatically receives child support enforcement services and assigns rights of support to the state.
• Anyone who does not receive FITAP, KCSP, or Medicaid may apply for SES services and pay an application fee of $25.

Applying

How and Where Do I Apply?

The Support Enforcement Services District Office staff is located in 12 SES District Offices. These District Offices serve all 64 parishes in the state. The agency also has cooperative agreements with 40 District Attorneys in the State. The scope of services provided by District Attorneys varies, depending on the services that a particular District Attorney is contracted to provide.

• Application for Child Support Services (SES 101)  
• Instructions for the Application for Child Support Services (SES 101)
• Obligation Worksheet A (SES 330)

Child Support Award Guideline Schedules (by combined monthly adjusted income):

The custodial parent or non-custodial may request a review when there is evidence that an error has occurred or an action should have been taken on the case. The purpose of the administrative review is to determine if the appropriate action was taken in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.

A request for an administrative review may be made verbally or in writing to the office that is handling the case. The Analyst and Supervisor will review the proposed action or the action taken on the case. The complainant will be notified by telephone or in writing of the decision made on the case.

Making and Receiving Payments

How and Where Do I make payments?

All fees and support payments must be made payable to the Department of Social Services (DSS). The payor shall include his/her name, address, and social security number and/or LASES number on the payment instrument.

Payments should be made by money order or cashier´s check and mailed to:

Centralized Collection Unit
Post Office Box 260222
Baton Rouge, LA 70826

Genetic Testing fees should be identified as "Genetic Test" when submitted to the Centralized Collection Unit.

How do I receive payments?

A check will be issued to you.

Direct Deposit of funds into a checking, savings or credit union account is also available.

• More information about Direct Deposit, including how to establish it, can be found here.

• A list of frequently asked questions, including paternity testing and rights of parents is located here.

1-800-256-4650 (Toll Free)
1-225-922-8111 (Teletypewriter Hearing Impaired)
1-225-922-8100 (Baton Rouge Local)

Access and Visitation

What is the Access and Visitation Program and how do I participate?

The access and visitation program is designed to help non-custodial parents become more involved in their children's lives.

• More information about the program, including an application, can be found here.

For EmployersHOW CAN EMPLOYERS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHILD SUPPORT PROGRAM?

• More information to assist employers with the child support program can be found here.  

I am an employer. How do I report new/rehired employees to the New Hire Registry?

There are several ways to report new and rehired employees.

• More information and links to an online new hire registry can be found here.

Child Support Leins/Licensing Agency Upload

CHILD SUPPORT LEIN NETWORK (CSLN)

The Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) combines data from delinquent child support obligor records into one accessible, easy-to-use database for the purpose of intercepting workers’ compensation and  insurance settlements owed to delinquent child support obligors.

• More information on CSLN can be found here.

Licensing Agency Upload:

Publications/LinksPublications

SES Overview

Related Links 

American Public Human Services Association
Administration for Children and Families