Location of an Absent Parent (Payor)

The Agency can assist in finding where an absent parent is currently living, in what city, town, or state. The applicant can request "Location Services Only" if the sole need is to find the whereabouts of the absent parent for child support purposes.

  Establishment of Support Orders and Modification of Existing Child Support Orders

The Agency can assist you in obtaining an order for support if you are separated, have been deserted, or need to establish paternity (fatherhood, see FAQ-Establishing Paternity). The Agency can also assist you in changing the amount of support orders (modification, see FAQ-Administrative Modification Review), and to establish a medical support order.

  Enforcement of Court Ordered Support

• The Agency can help you collect current and back child support.
• The Agency can arrange payments by attachment and withholdings of:
  • wages
  • bank accounts
  • unemployment benefits
  • workers compensation benefits
  • government retirement checks
  • federal and state income tax refunds*, and bonus benefits.
  • Other means of collection may be available based on your case.
  
  
• The Agency can assist you in collecting support if the payor is living in another state or in some foreign countries.
• The Agency can assist in the establishment and enforcement of a court order requiring the absent parent to enroll in a job program to seek and obtain employment.

*If you received ADC in the past and support was assigned to the State, past-due support collected will be paid to you first and then the State. The only exception to this distribution is IRS Tax Offset Collections. Tax Collections are paid to the State prior to the family being paid per Federal requirement.

  Establishment of paternity/Fatherhood (in Cases of Out-of-Wedlock Births)

The Agency can obtain an order for the establishment of paternity (fatherhood), if you were not married to the father of the child. An absent parent also may request paternity/fatherhood services. (See Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Establishment of Paternity). The only fee you may be charged for services is a one dollar application fee.

In providing IV-D (Child Support) services, the Agency and any of its contracted agents (e.g.: prosecutors, attorneys, hearing officers, etc.) represent the best interest of the children of the state of Ohio and do not represent any IV-D recipient or the IV-D recipient's personal interest.

  Please note, we cannot assist you with the following issues:

• Visitation rights
• Determinination of children's custody
• Property settlements