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.
Rhode Island Family Court is a statewide system handling all divorce, custody, paternity, and child support cases. The Office of Child Support Services operates under DHS. Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and Pawtucket are the largest cities. Rhode Island Legal Services and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence provide statewide civil legal aid and safety services to women.
The RI Office of Child Support Services at 77 Dorrance Street in Providence opens cases, establishes orders, and enforces collection statewide. Mothers can apply for IV-D services even without TANF; the application is free and processed within a few weeks. Phone 401-458-4400 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm. Spanish interpreters available at intake.
401-458-4400 · 77 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
DHS's child support customer web portal lets RI custodial mothers check payment history, view case status, update contact information, and download payment records suitable for court. Set up an account with your case number and SSN. Available 24/7 with no fees; technical questions go to 401-458-4400.
401-458-4400 · Online Service · Online 24/7
Warwick Child Support Office is the go-to child-support resource in the Warwick area for establishing, enforcing, or modifying support orders. Call 401-458-4400 to start intake or ask which services you qualify for. Hours are Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm, and walk-ins may be accepted depending on staffing. Free for qualifying Rhode Island mothers and their children.
401-458-4400 · 222 Quaker Ln, Warwick, RI 02886 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
DHS field office at 116 Main Street in Woonsocket handles child support intake and enforcement for northern Rhode Island including Blackstone Valley families. Convenient for mothers in Cumberland, Lincoln, and North Smithfield. Phone 401-458-4400 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm to confirm walk-in availability. Free service through the state IV-D agency.
401-458-4400 · 116 Main St, Woonsocket, RI 02895 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
DHS satellite at 45 Washington Square in Newport serves Aquidneck Island and East Bay mothers with child support filings, paternity establishment, and order reviews. Useful for Navy and Naval Station families needing in-state support orders. Phone 401-458-4400 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm; bring military LES if applicable.
401-458-4400 · 45 Washington Sq, Newport, RI 02840 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
Rhode Island runs a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage (VAP) program; mothers can complete the form at the hospital after birth or later at any DHS office at 77 Dorrance Street, Providence. Signed VAPs have the legal effect of a paternity judgment after 60 days. Phone 401-458-4400 with questions. Free service.
401-458-4400 · 77 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
DHS office at 175 Main Street in Pawtucket assists mothers in Pawtucket, Central Falls, and East Providence with new applications, modification petitions, and enforcement requests. Convenient if you can't get to the Providence main office. Phone 401-458-4400 Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm. Spanish and Portuguese commonly available.
401-458-4400 · 175 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4pm
NCSEA at ncsea.org is the professional association for child-support workers nationwide. Its public materials explain how the IV-D system works, what enforcement tools states can use, and how interstate cases are handled — useful background for a custodial mother frustrated with collections. Free public resources.
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The federal OCSS state-contacts page at acf.hhs.gov lists phone and web addresses for every state, tribal, and territorial IV-D office. Critical when the noncustodial parent has relocated and you need to route an interstate case through the right agency. Free, updated by federal staff.
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Single Mother Guide at singlemotherguide.com is a plain-language blog with step-by-step articles for unmarried and divorced mothers — how to apply, what arrears collection looks like, and how modification works in different states. Useful first read before approaching the agency. Free, no account needed.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics' parenting site at healthychildren.org includes pediatrician-reviewed articles on how child support intersects with health insurance, custody, and stability for children. A useful pediatric perspective when explaining the process to older kids. Free, ad-free.
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NFSN at nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org connects state networks of Family Resource Centers — community hubs that pair child-support navigation with parenting classes, food, and emergency aid. Rhode Island has affiliated centers in Providence and Pawtucket. Free public directory.
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