Best Child Support in Maine — 6 resources

About Child Support for Women

Child support is administered state-by-state under the federal Title IV-D program, with every state required to operate a Child Support Enforcement (CSE) agency. For custodial mothers, these agencies establish paternity, locate non-custodial parents, calculate orders under state guidelines, and enforce payments through wage garnishment, tax refund intercept, license suspension, and contempt actions. Services are free of charge. Mothers can also pursue retroactive support and modifications when income changes. The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) oversees the program. This directory includes each state's CSE agency, online support calculators, local enforcement offices, and modification resources.

Child Support in Maine

Maine district courts handle most family matters; superior courts handle more complex cases and appeals. The Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery operates under DHHS. Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, and Auburn are the largest cities. Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence support women, with strong online self-help resources for custody and support.

6 Resources

1. Maine DHHS — Division of Support Enforcement — Free

DSER is the Maine IV-D agency, run out of 11 State House Station in Augusta. Staff establish paternity, set guideline orders, garnish wages, intercept tax refunds, and suspend driver's licenses for arrears. Mothers can open a case for free regardless of whether they receive TANF. Call 800-371-7179 with the father's last known address, employer, and date of birth ready.

800-371-7179 · 11 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

NCSEA is the professional association for IV-D workers — useful for Maine mothers researching how DSER caseworkers are trained and what policy changes are coming on arrears interest, debt compromise, and license suspension. Their publications explain why a Maine case is handled the way it is.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

3. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

Federal OCSS directory with direct links to every IV-D agency, essential when the other parent has moved out of Maine and you need to initiate an interstate case under UIFSA. Pairs with Maine DHHS DSER to coordinate enforcement across state lines.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

4. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Independent plain-language guide written for single mothers on applying, modifying, and enforcing child support across state systems. The Maine section flags state-specific timing — DSER's review-and-adjust cycle and when an order can be modified under Title 19-A § 2009.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free

American Academy of Pediatrics resource explaining how a court-ordered support obligation affects a child's access to MaineCare, private insurance, and the medical-support provision Maine District Court judges routinely add. Useful reading before a hearing where insurance will be addressed.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. National Family Support Network — Free

NFSN coordinates state Family Support Programs and shares Maine-relevant research on father engagement and arrears-reduction pilots — useful for mothers exploring whether DSER will negotiate down uncollectible arrears once the other parent is back at work.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in Maine?
Women's Corner tracks 6 child support resources for women in Maine.
Are child support resources in Maine free?
6 of the 6 listed child support resources in Maine are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Maine have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Augusta.
What are some examples of child support resources in Maine?
Featured entries include Maine DHHS — Division of Support Enforcement, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency, Single Mother Guide — Child Support, Healthy Children — Child Support Basics.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
1 of 6 Maine child support listings include phone numbers.
How do I open a child support case?
Apply free through your state's Child Support Services agency — online, by mail, or in person at the local office. The agency establishes paternity if needed, locates the other parent, calculates the order, and enforces collection through wage garnishment, tax intercepts, and license suspension. You don't need the father's cooperation to open a case.
What if the father isn't paying?
Report non-payment to your state Child Support Services agency — they have enforcement tools you can't access alone, including wage garnishment, federal/state tax refund intercepts, passport denial, driver's license suspension, and contempt prosecution. Keep your contact info current with the agency so payments route to you correctly.
Can I get child support if we were never married?
Yes. You first establish paternity — voluntarily through an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or through a court-ordered DNA test if the father disputes it. Once paternity is legal, the court issues a support order based on his income. The state agency handles the whole process at no cost.
What if my support order is too low?
File a Motion to Modify with the court if there's been a substantial change — his income went up, your costs went up, custody time changed, or it's been 3+ years since the last review. Your state Child Support agency will do a free review every 3 years on request. Modifications aren't retroactive, so file as soon as circumstances change.