The Department of Human Resources

1. The child support will automatically come out of my paycheck, won't it?
   Generally, yes. The law now requires that all new orders have support payments made by wage attachment unless there is good cause not to do a wage lien (e.g.-non-custodial parent is self employed). If you change your job, you must notify The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement of the new employer so that the wage lien can be redirected.
   
   
2. How long before my employer starts making deductions?
   After the judge has signed the Court Order for a wage lien, The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement will forward the lien to your employer. Once your employer receives the lien, they are required to make deductions within 10 days or the next pay period. Until you receive a pay stub which shows that your employer has taken care of paying your support, you are responsible to send in the support payments to The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement. You can speed this process up by taking a copy of the lien to your employer and asking them to start making deductions immediately.
   
   
3. I lost my job. [or] I just got a new job making less money. I can't afford to pay the court ordered support.
   If you have experienced a substantial change in your circumstances through no fault of your own since the date the support order was signed, you may be entitled to ask the court to review your support order to determine if you are entitled to a decrease in support. You can hire a private attorney to do this for you or you can contact the Pro Se Family Law Program at 410-887-3446 to obtain information on filing this request on your own. For legal forms call the Legal Forms hotline at 1-800-818-9888.
   
   
4. My child support is deducted from my wages. When can the Office of Child Support Enforcement expect to receive my payment?
   Employers deduct child support payments according to the method/frequency by which they pay their employees. While most employers send the support payments as they are deducted, some send payments on an end-of-month basis. Check with your employer.
   
   
5. Can my unemployment or disability check be attached?
   Yes. You should contact The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement as soon as your job status changes to make arrangements for paying your support so that you do not fall behind. Some types of disability payments provide for benefits to be paid for the child(ren) on account of your disability. You should come into our office Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to discuss this matter with a customer service representative. In some cases, if Social Security Administration disability benefits are paid to the child(ren) and a petition is filed with the court the support obligation may be reduced.
   
   
6. Can I talk to my support agent?
   In order to assist you, our office has developed the following processes. You can write, email or fax your agent at the above address and number. You can call the call center which is staffed with trained personnel to answer your questions and advise you of your case status however if they cannot answer your question a work order to your agent will be done detailing your concerns. Please allow 25 days for a response. If a response is needed sooner you may visit us at the above address during our walk-in hours Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. where you will be seen by a customer service representative, no appointment necessary.
   
   
7. How do I change my name, address, telephone number, or job information?
   You can put any changes in writing and mail the information to the above listed address. You may also call 1-800-332-6347 between the hours of 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and relay this information to our call center operators. You may also log on to www.dhr.state.md.us/csea/contact.php to make a change.
   
   
8. I want to be sure my payment was received. What do I do?
   You may call 410-962-1110 [Baltimore Metro Area] or 1-800-723-9937 [outside the Baltimore Metro Area] (Monday through Friday...7:00 am - 7:00 pm) and these numbers provide detailed information about your case. You must have your 9 digit child support case # to access this information. This is the same information that The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement has access to.
   
   
9. I am living with/married to someone else now, does their income count?
   Generally no. However, if you no longer work because you are fully supported by your current partner, the court may impute income to you.
   
   
10. The custodian is living with/married to someone else now. Shouldn't that person's income count too?
    Generally, no. For the same reasons that your partner's income wouldn't count, the custodian's partner's income wouldn't count under most circumstances.
    
    
11. My girlfriend/boyfriend/new spouse has a child whom I am supporting. Can I get credit for supporting them?
    No. You may only receive credit for a child which you are obligated to support by law. Generally, you are obligated to support your own biological children and legally adopted children. The reason for this is that there is another parent or guardian who is supposed to be financially responsible for that child(ren)'s support.
    
    
12. The custodian doesn't let me see the child(ren). Do I have to pay support? What can I do?
    Regardless of whether you visit the child, the child still needs to be supported; therefore, if someone is wrongfully withholding visitation you may be able to file a court case against the custodian. You can file a petition asking the court to establish or enforce your visitation rights. You can hire an attorney or if you wish to file the court papers on your own, contact the Pro Se Law Program at 410-887-3446 to obtain information on filing the papers yourself. For legal forms call the Legal Forms hotline at 1-800-818-9888.
    
    
13. The custodial parent is no longer receiving public assistance. Do I still have to pay support to the Office of Child Support Enforcement?
    Yes because a valid court order exists that requires you to pay child support through this office. If the custodian no longer wants the services of The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement, and he/she lives in the State of Maryland, he/she must come into our office with a photo ID and sign a case closure agreement. If the party does not live in the state of Maryland and the case is also monitored by an out of state court, they must contact the out of state court who in turn will contact our office. If there is no other court involved and the person is out of state, they must send a notarized letter with a copy of a photo ID stating they wish the case to be closed. They must also provide a daytime phone number so they can be contacted. Then it will be determined if the case should be closed. However, in any of the above situations, if the case is closed with our office the court order will still remain valid.
    
    
14. The custodial parent tells me that he/she no longer wants child support. Can I stop paying?
    No. You must discuss this with your support officer since only the custodian in a non-welfare case can request that child support services be terminated. See # 13.
    
    
15. My girlfriend/boyfriend/new spouse has a child which I am supporting. Can I get credit for supporting them?
    No. You may only receive credit for a child which you are obligated to support by law. Generally, you are obligated to support your own biological children and legally adopted children. The reason for this is that there is another parent or guardian who is supposed to be financially responsible for that child(ren)'s support.
    
    
16. Can the judge put me in jail if I don't pay my support on time?
    Yes. A judge can find that you are in contempt of court and incarcerate you for failing to obey a court order that requires you to pay support. If you are having difficulty paying your support, contact The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement immediately or file a petition with the court asking the court to review your support order.
    
    
17. My friend only pays $25 per week. Why do I pay more?
    Each child support award is based on statutory formula that takes into account the incomes of each of the parents, the number of children and specific expenses related to the care of children. Therefore, it is likely that two people with the same number of children will have different child support obligations.
    
    
18. I gave the custodian money for school clothes. Shouldn't that count against my support?
    No. The court order requires you to pay your support obligation through The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement. Any payments you make to the custodian directly or payments you make to someone else on the custodian/child's behalf are gifts. These gifts do not count against your support but are merely in addition to the support you owe under the court order.
    
    
19. What happens if I don't pay my support obligation as ordered by the court?
    Maryland law allows The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement to initiate a court action when payments are delinquent. The law also provides additional non-court remedies to enforce delinquent support payments such as tax intercepts, lottery intercepts, credit bureau reporting, and license suspensions. If you are unable to pay your obligation as ordered, contact your support officer immediately.
    
    
20. If I am paying towards arrears per the Court Order, can my tax refund be intercepted?
    Yes. The IRS will intercept a federal income tax refund for child support arrears which equal $500 or more. The Maryland Comptroller's Office will intercept a state income tax refund on support arrears equal to $150 or more.
    
    
21. I am remarried and owe back child support. Can I file a joint return?
    If a joint tax return is filed, your entire tax refund is subject to interception. However, if you file a separate or combined separate tax return, your spouse, who is not liable for past due support, will receive his or her portion of the refund.
    
    

Our walk in hours are between 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. Payments may be made during these hours by: money order, certified check, bank check, cashier's check, or cash. Exact payment is required, as no change is given. Please be sure that your payment includes your name and 9 digit child support case number (this will ensure proper credit). Make your check or money order payable to The Maryland Child Support Account. You may mail your child support payment to Maryland Child Support Account P.O. Box 17396 Baltimore, Maryland 21297-1396. If the payment is being made to avoid an upcoming court date or in reference to a license suspension then the payment must be made in cash.

It is your responsibility to notify The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement of all changes either by mail, fax, or in person within 10 days of the change. These changes include: change of address/name, change of custody, new court order, emancipation of a child, change in employment status (including new job, layoff, injury, illness, quit, etc.), and change in health insurance status, coverage, or carrier.

Any payments made other than through The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement are considered gifts. Money or gifts given directly to the custodian/caretaker or child(ren), or a third party cannot be used in lieu of the child support obligation. DO NOT MAKE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO THE OTHER PARTY.

When calling the call center, they will attempt to handle your concerns. If they are unable to resolve all your concerns, a work order will be done to our office. Please allow 25 days for a response. If a response is needed sooner we have walk-in hours as stated above, no appointment necessary.

THANK YOU,
The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement

1. Can you represent me in custody and visitation matters?
   No, The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement is only permitted to deal with issues concerning child support. If you desire representation for these matters then you will need to hire an attorney.
   
   
2. Why can't the judge put him/her in jail when he/she doesn't pay on time?
   The law requires that the non-custodial parent be at least 30 days late before a referral for a show cause hearing can occur. Once that time has passed, the non-custodial parent must be given notice of a pending hearing and an opportunity to present his/her side of the case to the master or judge.
   
   
3. The child support will automatically come out of the paycheck, won't it?
   Generally, yes. The law now requires that all new orders have support payments made by wage attachment unless there is good cause not to do a wage lien (e.g.-non-custodial parent is self employed). If the non-custodial parent changes jobs, he/she must notify The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement of the new employer so that the wage lien can be redirected.
   
   
4. How long before the employer starts making deductions?
   After the judge has signed the Court Order for a wage lien, The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement will forward the lien to the employer. Once the employer receives the lien, they are required to make deductions within 10 days or the next pay period. Until the payments are deducted, the non-custodial parent is responsible to send in the support payments to The Maryland Child Support Account.
   
   
5. The child support is deducted from the non-custodial parent's wages. When can The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement expect to receive payment?
   Employers deduct child support payments according to the method/frequency by which they pay their employees. While most employers send the support payments as they are deducted, some send payments on a monthly basis. The Child Support Enforcement Administration has 7 workdays to process a payment after it has been received. All child support payments are mailed from Annapolis and not the local agency.
   
   
6. He/she is paid under the table, can't you attach that?
   No, the very nature of "under the table" wages means those wages are not being reported by the employee or employer. In order to attach wages, the employer must cooperate with the court order by withholding the support amount from the employee's pay and forwarding it to The Maryland Child Support Account.
   
   
7. He/she is self-employed, can you attach that?
   A wage attachment only works when there is someone other than the non-custodial parent who can withdraw the support from the non-custodial parent's pay before he/she receives the paycheck.
   
   
8. He/she is receiving unemployment, can you attach that?
   Yes, there is a computer interface between child support and the unemployment office.
   
   
9. Can I talk to my enforcement agent?
   In order to assist you, our office has developed the following processes. You can write, email or fax your agent at the above address and number. You can call the call center, which is staffed with trained personnel to answer your questions and advise you of your case status; however, if they cannot answer your question a work order to your agent will be done detailing your concerns. Please allow 25 days for a response. If a response is needed sooner you may visit us at the above address during our walk-in hours Monday through Thursday 8:30 am - 4:00 pm where you will be seen by a customer service representative, no appointment necessary.
   
   
10. How do I change my name, address, or telephone number?
    You can put any changes in writing and mail the information to the above listed address. You may also call 1-800-332-6347 between the hours of 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and relay this information to our call center operators. You may also log on to http://www.dhr.state.md.us/csea/contact.php to make a change.
    
    
11. I have not received a payment. What do I do?
    Call 410-962-1110 [Baltimore Metro Area] or 1-800-723-9937 [outside the Baltimore Metro Area] (Monday through Friday...7:00 am-7:00 pm) which provides detailed information about your case. You must have your 9 digit child support case # to access this information. This is the same information that The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement has access to. If you have not received a payment in 30 days, write to your support enforcement agent at the above listed address.
    
    
12. I am now living with/married to someone else. Does their income count?
    Generally no. However, if you no longer work because you are fully supported by your current partner, the court may impute income to you.
    
    
13. The non-custodial parent is living with/married to someone else now. Shouldn't that person's income count too?
    Generally, no. For the same reasons that your partner's income wouldn't count, the custodian's partner's income wouldn't count under most circumstances.
    
    
14. I am no longer collecting TCA. Will I get my child support?
    Yes. A valid court order exists which requires payments through this office for the support of your children. You will get your monthly support obligated amount as payments are received. But, you must wait for the payments to be made to our office and processed.
    
    
15. I want to close my case. What should I do?
    As long as you're not receiving TCA, you can come into our office and see a customer service representative. You will need to bring a photo ID and you will be asked to sign a case closure agreement.
    
    
16. The non-custodial parent now has custody of the child. What do I need to do?
    You should come into our office as soon as possible and provide our office with the date this change took place. If arrears exist on the case let us know whether or not you want our office to collect them.
    
    
17. What happens if the support obligation as ordered by the court is not paid?
    Maryland law allows The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement to initiate a court action when payments are delinquent. The law also provides additional non-court remedies to enforce delinquent support payments, such as tax refund intercepts, lottery intercepts, credit bureau reporting, referral to private collection agencies, and license suspensions.
    
    
18. If the non-custodial parent owes back child support for a child under the age of 18, are there other means to collect the arrears?
    Yes, the tax refund intercept program is automatically utilized each year as long as we have a social security number for the non-custodial parent. The IRS will intercept a federal income tax refund for child support arrears that equal $500 or more. The Maryland Comptroller's Office will intercept a state income tax refund on support arrears equal to $150 or more. This process begins in the Fall of each year.
    
    
19. Is there a fee for the tax intercept program?
    Yes, from the amount you receive, a fee of $25 will be deducted from any federal income tax refund, and $10 from any intercepted state tax refund you receive.
    
    
20. I was on public assistance for a period of time, and there are arrears due the State, as well as me. Who will receive the tax money intercepted?
    If the non-custodial parent owes any arrears assigned to the State, these will be paid first and any remainder will be distributed to you.
    
    
21. How long will it be before I receive the tax refund intercept?
    You must be very patient about getting the money. It may take several months after the non-custodial parent files the income tax return. If an appeal is filed, it will take even longer.
    
    

Current payment information can be obtained between the hours of 7:00 am - 7:00 pm by dialing 410-962-1110 [Baltimore Metro Area] or 1-800-723-9937 [outside the Baltimore Metro Area]. By using your 9 digit child support case number, you may access the amount of the last payment, date paid, the support obligation amount, arrears balance, case status, plus other additional information.

Our walk in hours are between 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.

It is your responsibility to notify The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement of all changes either by mail, fax, or in person within 10 days of the change. These changes include: change of address/name, change of custody, new court order, or emancipation of a child. You may also make theses changes through the call center at 1-800-332-6347 or at www.dhr.state.md.us/csea/contact.php.

Your order of court requires that all payments are to be made payable through The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement and not directly to the custodian/caretaker of the child(ren). DO NOT ACCEPT DIRECT PAYMENTS.

When calling the call center, they will attempt to handle your concerns. If they are unable to resolve all your concerns, a work order will be done to our office. Please allow 25 days for a response. If a response is needed sooner we have walk-in hours as stated above, no appointment necessary.

THANK YOU,
The Baltimore County Office of Child Support Enforcement