Who Is Entitled To Child Support Services?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Child support services are available to both custodial and noncustodial parents. Even if you or the other parent live in another state, you can apply for services in Oregon. Relatives or other caretakers who have physical custody of a child are also entitled to child support services.

How Do I Get Services?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If your child receives public assistance, your child support case should be referred to DCS automatically. That is also true if your child is in the custody of the State Offices of Services for Children and Families or the Oregon Youth Authority.

If your child does not receive public assistance, you can apply to the District Attorney in the county in which you live. (To find out where to call, see the list of District Attorney offices.) You will be asked to complete an application and charged a onetime $1 fee for this service. The fee will be deducted from the first money we collect.

In Oregon, Can a Spouse Give Up His or Her Right to Alimony in a Premarital Agreement?

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:44:49 GMT

Yes, Oregon law allows spouses to include modification or elimination of spousal support in their prenuptial agreement. However, if that modification or elimination of spousal support would cause one of the spouses to be eligible for public assistance at the time of the separation or divorce then the Court may require the other spouse to pay alimony to the extent necessary to avoid such eligibility.

What Agency In Oregon Enforces Child Support Orders?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:57:09 GMT

The Central Operations Region Accounting Teams of DCS provide the billing and accounting services. These Teams have a 24hour tollfree number (below) to help answer questions about payments for established child support cases in Oregon.
24 Hour Telephone Information Line
From the Salem area:(503) 3737300
Tollfree in Oregon:(800) 8500228 touch tone phones
(800) 8500294 rotary phones
From outside Oregon:(503) 3785567 TTY:(503) 9545928

If you receive public assistance in Oregon or received it in the past, the Department of Justice, Division of Child Support (DCS) will provide support enforcement services. Public assistance means Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid (including Oregon Health Plan Services). DCS also provides services if your child is in the care of the State Offices of Services for Children and Families or the Oregon Youth Authority.

If you have not received public assistance, you can receive child support enforcement services from the District Attorney in the county where you live. In a few counties, DCS provides services for the District Attorney. Also, a request for a review and modification of your order may be assigned to the county where the original order was taken, or to the county where the other parent lives. You should check with your local District Attorney for more information.

If the Division of Child Support handles your case, contact them if you have questions regarding modification of your order.

What If I Have A Grievance?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Parties in child support cases are entitled to fair, professional, courteous and accurate service from offices of the Oregon Child Support Program.

If you have a complaint that you have not received this level of service from an Oregon Child Support Office, please contact a supervisor in that office. If talking to a supervisor does not succeed in resolving the issue, you may wish to file a grievance. You may obtain a form to file a grievance by calling the tollfree 24hour telephone information line (above).

This form will contain the instructions for filing the grievance, including the address where it should be sent. Your grievance will be screened, and if accepted, responded to within 90 days.

What Is Expected Of Me?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If you are thinking of applying for public assistance, you may want to contact your local District Attorney first. They may be able to help you get child support, which may mean you can avoid going on public assistance.

If you receive public assistance, you are required to cooperate with the Division of Child Support. However, if you can show that to do so would be harmful to you or your child, you may be exempt from cooperating. Whether you receive public assistance or not, your cooperation with the enforcing agency is very necessary to the success of collecting support or establishing paternity.

Any facts you have about the noncustodial parent are helpful in enforcing support. Although it is not a requirement for application, you should include as many of the following pieces of information as you can on the application to help the caseworker locate the parent and enforce support:

The full name and address (or last known location) of the noncustodial parent
The parent`s Social Security Number (this can be found on things such as pay stubs, old tax forms, health insurance forms, and drivers` licenses issued by some states)
The parent`s date of birth (or approximate age)
The present or last place the parent worked
The county and state in which the divorce occurred, if there was one, and a copy of the order, or the county and state where there is any other support order
The child(ren)`s birth certificate and Social Security Number
Information on any assets such as bank accounts, vehicles, or land the noncustodial parent might have

What Is The Child Support Program?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Federal law requires each state to have a child support program. In Oregon, the Department of Human Services oversees the program. It is the goal of the Child Support Program to help ensure that each child in Oregon receives this support.

What Services Will The Division Of Child Suppot Not Provide?

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:58:57 GMT

Legal Advice

Neither the Division of Child Support (DCS) nor the District Attorney is your attorney. They cannot give you legal advice. They represent the State of Oregon. Any person involved in a case handled by DCS or the District Attorney may hire an attorney at their own expense. In contempt and criminal nonsupport cases, the court will appoint an attorney to represent the person charged if that person cannot afford an attorney. Please tell the enforcing agency if you have an attorney who represents you in any child support matter. DCS or the District Attorney must deal with your attorney unless your attorney says they can talk with you. Spousal Support is not enforced unless it was part of the original child support order. If spousal support is not part of the child support order but does include income withholding provisions, we can initiate income withholding and provide accounting services; however, we cannot take other enforcement action to collect spousal support.

Visitation & Legal Custody

Neither DCS nor the District Attorney can advise you about visitation or custody matters. These matters must be discussed with a private attorney or handled in court.

What Steps are Necessary to Enter a Valid Premarital Agreement in Oregon?

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:29:32 GMT

The Oregon Uniform Premarital Agreement Act requires that premarital agreements be in writing and signed by both parties. In order to be valid, the agreement must be made voluntarily by both parties and not be unconscionable. Both parties must provide fair and reasonable disclosure of their property and financial obligations to the other party. Oregon state law is specific as to the matters which may be included in the agreement. A premarital agreement may be amended once the parties are married if both parties agree to the amendment in writing.

When Should I Apply For Child Support Services?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Every child has the right to have the support of both parents. The Child Support Program may be able to help if you are having problems:

Establishing who the father of a child is
Finding the noncustodial parent
Getting a child support order established or changing an existing support order
Getting medical insurance coverage for a child
Determining the amount of past due child support
Collecting child support payments
Collecting spousal support payments when spousal support is part of a child support order
You are entitled to these services.

Who Do I Contact?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If you receive public assistance and have questions about establishing paternity or establishing, modifying or enforcing a support order, contact the nearest Division of Child Support office. If you have not received public assistance, contact the District Attorney in your area. If you do not know which District Attorney office to contact, use the tollfree 24hour telephone information line to request an application for services. If you have questions or need more information about child support payments, you can call the Central Operations Region Accounting Teams tollfree 24hour telephone (payment) information line or write to them at:
Central Operations Region
Accounting Teams
PO Box 14506
Salem, OR 97309

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