Child Support Services

Riverside County CA Child Support Services helps parents and guardians establish, manage, modify, and enforce court-ordered child and medical support. The Riverside County Department of Child Support Services serves both people who receive support and people who pay support, with options for opening a case, reviewing account information, making payments, requesting order changes, addressing government-owed arrears, and communicating with a child support specialist. This article explains which services the department handles, how to prepare for common child support tasks, where official online systems fit into the process, and which issues must be handled outside the department.

Child Support Services Available

The Riverside County Department of Child Support Services, commonly referred to as RivCoDCSS, works with parents and guardians to help children and families receive court-ordered financial and medical support. The department serves more than one role in a child support case, from establishing an initial obligation to collecting and distributing payments after an order is in effect.

Services provided by the department include establishing legal parentage through a court order, locating parents when locating them is part of a child support case, requesting child support orders from the court, requesting medical support orders, enforcing child support orders, modifying existing child support orders, and collecting and disbursing support payments. In certain circumstances, the department may also enforce an existing spousal support order.

The department does not handle every family law issue. Its services do not include custody or visitation disputes, divorce proceedings, obtaining or enforcing restraining orders, or establishing spousal support orders. Those distinctions matter because a change in where a child lives, for example, may affect a child support order, but the Department of Child Support Services itself does not change custody orders.

Relationship With the Department

The Riverside County Department of Child Support Services does not represent either parent or the children as an attorney. Its attorneys do not act as personal attorneys for the parties in a case. Because there is no attorney-client relationship, information supplied to the department is not protected by attorney-client privilege.

Case information may be disclosed to public agencies authorized by law to receive it, to the other parent's employer, and to the other parent or that parent's attorney when disclosure is legally required. The department also has discretion over the child support enforcement actions it takes. A person receiving support does not personally direct which enforcement technique the agency must use.

Parents who want individualized legal advice, representation, or assistance with family law matters outside the department's authority may use the Riverside Superior Court's Family Law Assistance Center or retain private counsel. The Family Law Facilitator can provide general information and help prepare forms, but the facilitator is neutral, does not represent either party, and does not go to court as a party's attorney.

Opening a Child Support Case

A parent or legal guardian who needs child support services can begin through California's child support program. Riverside County directs applicants who want to open a new case to the state enrollment process, while the county department can provide assistance with the application and explain information needed to establish the case.

The county's opening a child support case information also addresses situations in which the other parent has been absent for a long time. A case may still be opened. The department is required to attempt to locate the noncustodial parent, although locating someone may become more difficult the longer the person has been gone.

Child support agency case files are confidential and are not open to the general public. That does not mean every court document connected with a child support matter is confidential; court files may be public records. Parents should therefore distinguish between records maintained by RivCoDCSS and records filed with the court.

Information Needed for the Case

During an interview, a parent may be asked for information about themselves, their children, and the other parent. Complete and accurate information can help the department move the case forward because it may be needed to locate a parent, establish parentage, obtain a support order, or take enforcement action.

Applicants and people already receiving services should promptly report changes or new information affecting the case. Examples identified by Riverside County include:

Changes to an address or telephone number.
A legal name change.
The beginning of a divorce or another legal proceeding.
New information about the noncustodial parent.
Child or spousal support received directly rather than through the normal collection system.
Payments received directly from another health coverage source.

A person receiving support should also keep the department informed if a minor child becomes emancipated or marries, or if the other parent or another person obtains custody of the child. Riverside County states that changes in custody, including temporary changes, must be reported within 10 days.

Public Assistance Cases

People applying for public assistance do not have to personally demand child support from the other parent. RivCoDCSS contacts the noncustodial parent as part of the child support process.

A recipient of public assistance or medical benefits is generally expected to cooperate with the department by supplying information or documents needed to establish parentage, locate the other parent, and obtain support. Riverside County explains that a legally accepted reason, such as a probability of physical or emotional harm to the parent or children, may constitute good cause for not cooperating.

When support rights are assigned because a parent or child receives public assistance, child support that was owed during the assistance period may be used to reimburse government assistance provided for the family. Support collected beyond the applicable public assistance benefits is paid according to the rules governing the case.

Accessing Case Information Online

California's Customer Connect system is the primary self-service system for people who already have child support services. Riverside County's account access information explains that Customer Connect can be used to review case and payment information without requiring an office visit for routine account questions.

Through Customer Connect, users can:

Review payment information.
View a child support case balance.
Review case information.
Verify court dates and appointments.
Update account information, including an address.
Reset or change a Personal Identification Number.
Enroll to receive electronic documents and communications.
Send a message through the Contact Us feature.

When a message is submitted through Customer Connect, Riverside County states that the department will make every effort to respond within three working days. The user must log back into the system to read the response.

Customer Connect is also useful when a person needs to communicate directly with a caseworker or set up notifications. Parents should avoid confusing the online child support account with a Riverside Superior Court case search. Customer Connect is intended for child support case information and account functions, while court systems maintain court filings and court records.

Virtual and In-Person Assistance

RivCoDCSS offers several ways to communicate with a child support specialist. In addition to office interviews and telephone service, the department offers live chat during regular business hours and Microsoft Teams video appointments.

The department's appointment reservation system can be used to schedule either a virtual or an in-person appointment. A Microsoft Teams appointment is a video conference between the participant and a Child Support Specialist.

Live Chat provides another option for questions that may not require a formal appointment. When Live Chat is active during regular business hours, users can communicate with a live agent through the RivCoDCSS website.

Riverside County also operates public contact offices in Riverside, Indio, and Blythe. Published telephone and interview hours for those locations are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Local cash payment hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Child Support Payment Options

California's State Disbursement Unit, or SDU, processes child support payments. The county's official payment options page describes several ways a person paying support can submit payments when the amount is not already being withheld from earnings or when an additional payment is needed.

A person with an open case managed by a local child support agency may have options that include check, money order, credit or debit card, cash, electronic funds transfer, telephone payments, and payments at participating kiosks. The exact method selected can affect fees and posting time.

Participant ID Requirements

Several payment methods require a California child support Participant ID. This identifier should not be confused with a court case number or another account number. For example, MoneyGram payments require both the Participant ID and Receive Code 14630, while PayNearMe requires the payer's name and Participant ID to obtain a payment code.

Using the wrong identifier can interfere with the payment process. Parents who do not know which number is required for a particular payment method should verify the information through their child support account or with Child Support Services before submitting the transaction.

Payment Fees and Posting Time

Fees differ by payment method. The county states that PayNearMe and MoneyGram charge a $1.99 transaction fee. Online credit and debit card payments through the SDU carry a 1.9% service fee. PayPal payments carry a 2.49% service fee with a $3.95 minimum, and the maximum PayPal transaction amount is $5,000 per day.

Electronic or retail payments may not appear immediately. Riverside County advises that some PayNearMe and MoneyGram payments may take about three business days to post, while PayPal can take three or four days. A payer does not receive credit for a payment until it has been processed by the SDU.

Payments by Mail or Office

When a case is managed by a local child support agency, a check or money order may be mailed to the California State Disbursement Unit. Riverside County offices also have TouchPay kiosks that can accept cash, debit cards, credit cards, and electronic checks during business hours. Fees may apply depending on the payment method.

Private cases that are not managed by a local child support agency are handled differently for mailed payments. The Riverside County payment page directs people with those cases to contact the child support program for assistance rather than assuming the same mailing procedure applies.

Changing an Existing Order

A change to an existing child support court order is called a modification. Either the person receiving support or the person paying support may ask the Riverside County Department of Child Support Services to review a case for a possible modification.

The county's modification process information explains that a modification generally requires a substantial change in circumstances since the court entered the previous order. Examples include a change in primary custody, a significant change in visitation, a significant income change for either parent, incarceration of the person paying support, receipt of certain public benefits, or military deployment.

Modification Review Process

When either parent requests a review, the department sends a modification packet to both parents. The packet requests financial information and other information that may affect the child support calculation. The department reviews the information and determines whether asking the court for a modification is appropriate.

If a modification is appropriate, the parties are informed. When both parties agree to a new support amount, a stipulation must still be filed with the court. It becomes a court order only after the judicial officer signs it.

If the parties do not agree, the department may file the necessary documents to obtain a court hearing. At the hearing, the judicial officer may increase the support amount, decrease it, or deny the request to modify the order.

The existing order remains in effect until it is formally changed. A job loss, income reduction, or change in the child's living arrangement does not automatically change the monthly amount. The person paying support remains responsible for the amount in the existing order until a modification is made.

Employment and Income Changes

A parent who loses a job may qualify for a lower support order, but Riverside County advises contacting the department as soon as possible to request a review. An employment-related reduction in income can trigger a new calculation using both parents' income, the cost of adding the child to health insurance, and the timeshare percentage.

Riverside County also states that once a requested modification review begins, it cannot be stopped. A review can produce either an increase or a decrease, so parents should not assume that asking for a review will necessarily lower the order.

Debt Reduction for Government Arrears

Some parents owe past-due child support to the government because their children received public assistance or were in foster care while court-ordered support was unpaid. Riverside County's Debt Reduction Program information explains that qualifying parents may be able to settle eligible government-owed arrears for less than the full balance.

The Debt Reduction Program is limited to debt owed to the government. The amount of any reduction depends on factors such as income, assets, expenses, family circumstances, and ability to pay. An agreement may require a lump-sum payment or a payment plan.

To qualify, a parent generally must be able to pay the current child support obligation as well as an ongoing payment toward the debt. If there is no current support obligation, the ability to make the debt payment is considered. Riverside County states that each case is reviewed individually.

Parents must provide truthful financial information and comply with an approved payment agreement. If information is hidden or misrepresented, or required payments are not made after an agreement is reached, California Child Support Services may cancel the agreement and remove the parent from the program.

Family Reunification Arrears

California also has a Compromise of Assigned Arrearages-Family Reunification program for certain government-owed child support debts associated with children who were placed outside the home and later returned to a parent who had been ordered to pay support.

Eligibility involves several conditions, including the type of public assistance involved, the child's placement history, the child's current living arrangement, the child's age or emancipation status, household income, and compliance with any required reunification plan. This program is distinct from a general request to reduce current monthly support.

Forms, Disputes, and Complaints

The department's forms and publications page provides forms for case authorization and for resolving problems with local child support services.

A parent may authorize RivCoDCSS to discuss the support case with another person and to receive settlement offers made on the parent's behalf. Riverside County specifically states that this authorization is not a power of attorney. The authorization form must be completed and mailed to the department.

For a problem involving the handling of a child support case, the Inquiry/Dispute Statement Form is used before a formal complaint. The local child support agency must respond to an inquiry or dispute within three business days. If the issue remains unresolved or the person is dissatisfied with the response, a Request for Complaint Resolution Form may be used.

A separate Civil Rights Complaint Form is available for allegations that the local child support agency discriminated against a person based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status, or age.

Estimating a Support Amount

The California Department of Child Support Services provides a state child support guideline calculator that can estimate the amount of support that might be ordered. The calculator is based on the legal guidelines used in California courts, but the result is only an estimate. The child support commissioner or family law judge has final authority to determine the actual support amount.

As of the referenced state information, the online calculator has been decertified because it does not yet reflect tax changes from the July 2025 federal budget bill. It may still be used for an estimate, but some tax calculations may be incorrect. The state directs users who need a free certified calculator to their local Family Law Facilitator's office.

Parents should therefore avoid treating an online estimate as a court order, a guaranteed payment amount, or an automatic basis for changing an existing order. An existing order continues to control until the court modifies it.

Responsibilities During an Open Case

People receiving child support services are expected to provide complete, accurate, and current information. Some forms must be signed under penalty of perjury, and Riverside County states that false statements on those documents may lead to prosecution for perjury.

For a person receiving support who is not receiving public assistance, failure to cooperate with necessary actions or sign required legal documents may result in closure of the child support case. Complete information can also affect the department's ability to locate a parent, obtain an order, or collect support.

If a parent retains a private attorney to enforce or modify the child support obligation, the department must be informed. Riverside County requires a copy of an action to modify and, within 15 calendar days after issuance, a copy of the resulting new order. A person planning a separate enforcement action must notify the department in writing 30 days before filing so the department can respond regarding any ongoing enforcement activity or investigation.

Employer Role in Child Support

Employers are part of California's child support payment system when an income withholding order applies. Employers may be responsible for withholding support from wages, enrolling children in available medical coverage, and deducting applicable premiums.

Income withholding payments are commonly routed through the California State Disbursement Unit. Employers handling multiple withholding orders may need to distinguish between IV-D cases, in which a county child support agency is providing services, and Non-IV-D cases, in which the parties are not receiving county child support agency services.

Those classifications matter because case setup and payment processing procedures can differ. Employers should use the case number assigned for the obligation when remitting payments and should not substitute an employee's Participant ID or an unrelated court identifier when the SDU requires a case number.

Final Department List

Riverside County Department of Child Support Services — Riverside Office

2081 Iowa Ave.
Riverside, CA 92507
866-901-3212

Riverside County Department of Child Support Services — Indio Office

47-950 Arabia St.
Indio, CA 92201
866-901-3212

Riverside County Department of Child Support Services — Blythe Office

260 N. Broadway
Blythe, CA 92225
866-901-3212

Riverside County Department of Child Support Services — Mailing Address

2041 Iowa Ave.
Riverside, CA 92507
866-901-3212

Child Support Services FAQs

Does remarriage automatically change child support?

No. A parent’s remarriage does not automatically end or reduce an existing child support obligation to children from a prior relationship. Riverside County explains that responsibility to the first family continues. However, supporting additional children can be a factor when the child support amount is reviewed. Any change still requires the proper modification process, and both parents must have an opportunity to provide relevant information before the court order changes. The county’s child support modification information explains how these reviews are handled.

Can I request a modification directly from the court?

Yes. Parents are not limited to requesting a review through Riverside County Child Support Services. A parent may file a modification request directly with the court. People representing themselves can seek procedural assistance from a Family Law Facilitator, who can provide general information and help with preparing forms. The facilitator is neutral and does not act as either parent’s attorney.

Can I use child support services without public assistance?

Yes. Riverside County provides child support services to parents and guardians regardless of whether they receive public assistance. Both the person paying support and the person receiving support may use applicable services. The county’s parents and guardians information explains the responsibilities and services available to people involved in child support cases.

Can another person discuss my case for me?

Riverside County allows a participant to authorize another person to discuss the support case with the department and receive settlement offers made on the participant’s behalf. This authorization is not a power of attorney. The appropriate authorization form must be completed and submitted according to county instructions. The form is available on the official forms and publications page.