Child Support Enforcement Unit

The Child Support Enforcement Unit provides essential assistance to families in need of child support. The office represents the interests of parents, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in civil actions seeking to establish the paternity of children born out of wedlock, and to establish and enforce orders for the payment of child support.

The office also seeks to enforce unpaid child support obligations through the use of administrative procedures, such as judgements and liens.

Additionally, the Unit obtains orders restricting distribution of proceeds in lawsuits thus insuring that a "deadbeat" parent pays a child support obligation before receiving the proceeds of a personal injury suit or other settlement recovery.

The Unit , working with the Family Court Domestic Relations Branch, assisted in the collection of over $150,000,000 in child support payments in calendar year 2000.