| Contact Us! | ||
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5669 Gibraltar Drive Pleasanton CA 94588-8547 |
Toll Free: 1-866-901-3212
(24 hour automated system) How to navigate through our Interactive Voice Response System (49KB)* |
Fax: (925) 468-9297
Open a Case |
WELCOME to the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services Web Page!
"Our Mission is to establish paternity, and medical and child support orders and to collect child and spousal support payments in an efficient and cost effective manner while maintaining the respect and dignity of the public we serve."
The Alameda County Department of Child Support Services establishes paternity and child support orders, collects child, medical, and spousal support payments, modifies orders and provides medical enforcement services. This office does not charge for its services.
Any custodial or non-custodial party may request that the Alameda County Department of Child Support Services aid in collecting the court ordered support. You are eligible regardless of whether or not you are receiving public assistance (CalWORKs or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)).
To open a case, you should contact our office to request an Application for Services. Once these forms have been completed and returned to our office, you should receive a case opening letter in approximately three weeks.
FUNCTIONS WE PERFORM
There are many resources at our disposal to assure payment of child support by the absent mother or father.
An account can be opened only if there is a court order for child support. If there is no order, our office will attempt to establish one for you.
Once the account is opened, each month we will send a billing statement for the amount due to the non-custodial parent. If the non-custodial parent fails to pay, our department will use a variety of enforcement actions against the non-paying parent.
If you are receiving CalWORKs, you have automatically assigned to Alameda County your right to receive all current child support. Child support payments MUST come through Child Support Services. These payments will offset all CalWORKs you receive. Should the amount collected based on the court order exceed the amount of aid you received, the excess will be passed on to you.
If you are not receiving CalWORKs, your support payments will be sent to you within two working days from the day the State Disbursement Unit receives the payment.
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Our staff is fully trained to effectively pursue collection of your support. However, as a County agency we cannot give you the same personal attention as a private attorney.
We realize that your support payments are very important to you, but remember, LEGAL & ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS TAKE TIME. We will do everything we can to reach a quick conclusion.
The caseworker handling your case will promptly contact you if your case needs to be discussed after it is opened. Contact with our office should be in writing, by telephone, fax or e-mail.
The interactive voice response telephone system is available 24 hours a day to provide payment information and to answer many of your general questions. This web site also has Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to answer many of your questions. The information on this website is not intended to replace legal advice or counsel.
Our PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. to answer your case-specific questions.
FUNCTIONS WE CANNOT PERFORM
There are limits to our service.
WE CANNOT:
- Take any action to enforce your support unless it is more than one month late.
- Change custody or visitation.
- Prevent harassment, or handle restraining orders.
- Handle divorce proceedings.
- Establish spousal support orders.
- We do not legally represent either the custodial or non-custodial party's interests. Our attorneys are not your attorneys
- By law, we have the final decision as to which enforcement actions will or will not be taken in a case.
YOU CAN HELP:
- Let us know the non-custodial parent's Social Security Number--it is our most valuable piece of information.
- Let us know if you hear that the non-custodial parent has a new address, telephone number, or employer.
- Let us know if you go to court and custody is changed or if the amount of child support to be paid is changed.
- Let us know when you move and always make sure that we have a daytime telephone number so we can reach you.
- Let us know if you receive a direct payment of child or spousal support from the non-custodial parent. If you are receiving TANF benefits you are required by law to mail the direct payment to us. If you are not receiving TANF benefits, we request that you bring or mail the payment to us so your account will be accurate.
Information may be given to a Public Service Center representative who will assure swift follow-up.
The Welfare Department will notify us if aid is discontinued. We will continue to enforce your case unless you notify us in writing that you want our services stopped.
Like private attorneys, we expect and require your full cooperation and assistance. We do not know the other parent as well as you do and your knowledge, if relevant to collecting support, is important to us.
You will be treated with respect when you contact our office, and we are sure you will extend to us the same courtesy.
FINAL REMINDERS
When you contact our office, please have your case number available.
There are many resources available to locate the non-custodial parent and equally many ways to prove ability to pay child support. There are legal actions that can be taken and courts that will cooperate in the enforcement of child support orders. We have a staff of well-trained workers who are dedicated to the collection of your child support.
Nonetheless, we are not always successful. We will always be faced with the following:
- People whom we cannot locate
- Those who do not earn enough to pay child support
- Parents who lack sufficient responsibility to support their children.
We are committed to the collection of your child support. We know how important prompt payment is to you.