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.
13 Resources
Minnesota DHS's Child Support Division at 444 Lafayette Rd in St. Paul is the state IV-D agency, working with all 87 counties to establish paternity, set guideline orders, enforce withholding, and intercept MN tax refunds for arrears. Custodial mothers can open a case for free regardless of public-benefits status. Call 651-431-4400 weekdays; have the father's last known employer and address ready.
651-431-4400 · 444 Lafayette Rd N, St. Paul, MN 55155 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
MNCSO is the state portal at childsupport.dhs.state.mn.us where Minnesota mothers can view payment history, see disbursement schedules, update direct-deposit information, and message a county case worker without driving to the office. Free to use 24/7; call 651-431-4400 weekdays if you need help recovering account access or linking a new case.
651-431-4400 · Online Service · Online 24/7
Hennepin County's Child Support Office at 300 S 6th St A-1700 in downtown Minneapolis handles establishment, enforcement, and modifications for the state's largest county. Walk-in service is available; many cases are now resolved through the Child Support Magistrate (expedited) calendar. Call 612-348-3400 Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm to open or check a case.
612-348-3400 · 300 S 6th St A-1700, Minneapolis, MN 55487 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Ramsey County's office at 160 E Kellogg in downtown St. Paul handles paternity establishment, guideline orders, and enforcement actions for St. Paul and surrounding suburbs. Mothers receiving MFIP automatically have a child-support case opened; non-MFIP cases require a separate application. Call 651-266-3400 weekdays; Spanish, Hmong, and Karen interpreters are available.
651-266-3400 · 160 E Kellogg Blvd Suite 1000, St. Paul, MN 55101 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Dakota County's Child Support office at 1 Mendota Rd W in West St. Paul serves mothers in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Hastings, and Lakeville. Staff handle paternity, modifications, and license-suspension enforcement. Call 651-891-7400 Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm; have your case number ready or your child's birth certificate if you are opening a new case.
651-891-7400 · 1 Mendota Rd W Suite 100, West St. Paul, MN 55118 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Anoka County's office at 2100 3rd Ave in Anoka handles support cases for Coon Rapids, Blaine, Andover, and the surrounding north metro. Mothers can apply by mail, in person, or online through MNCSO. Call 763-324-4400 weekdays for case-specific help; modifications typically require a 20% income change or a substantial change in parenting time.
763-324-4400 · 2100 3rd Ave Suite 700, Anoka, MN 55303 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
St. Louis County's Child Support office at 320 W 2nd St in Duluth serves the largest geographic county in Minnesota, including Duluth, Virginia, Hibbing, and the Iron Range communities. Staff coordinate with neighboring Wisconsin and Ontario tribunals on cross-border enforcement. Call 218-726-2064 Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm to open or update a case.
218-726-2064 · 320 W 2nd St Suite 301, Duluth, MN 55802 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Washington County's Child Support office at 14949 62nd St N in Stillwater serves mothers in Stillwater, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, and Forest Lake. Staff handle modifications, arrears reduction agreements, and wage withholding. Call 651-430-6457 weekdays; bring or upload pay stubs and any existing order before your appointment to speed up review.
651-430-6457 · 14949 62nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
NCSEA is the professional association for IV-D workers — useful for Minnesota mothers researching how DHS caseworkers are trained, why MN uses an income-shares guideline model, and what policy changes are coming on interest waivers and license suspension. Their public publications help explain why your case is handled the way it is.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
The federal OCSS directory provides direct links to the IV-D agency in all 50 states and tribes. Essential when your child's father has moved out of Minnesota and you need to initiate an interstate enforcement case under UIFSA without having to research each state's contacts yourself.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Independent plain-language guide written for single mothers explaining how to apply, modify, and enforce support across state systems. The Minnesota section flags MN-specific timelines such as the income-shares guideline calculator and the 20% threshold for modifications.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
American Academy of Pediatrics resource explaining how a court-ordered support obligation affects a child's access to health insurance, including the medical-support provision Minnesota courts routinely add. Useful reading before a Minnesota Child Support Magistrate hearing where insurance and out-of-pocket medical costs will be addressed.
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NFSN shares Minnesota-relevant research on father engagement, two-parent involvement, and arrears-reduction pilots — useful for mothers exploring how to negotiate down uncollectible MN arrears once a non-paying father is back at work and meeting current support consistently.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website