The procedure for obtaining scientific evidence to aid in establishing a child's parentage. Child Support Services agencies use extended factor genetic tests, such as human leukocyte antigens (HLA) or DNA tests to assist in determining paternity. Genetic testing requires samples of DNA from the mother, alleged father, and the child.

Test results are typically received from the lab within six weeks.

Federal law requires that each state use guidelines to set the amount of child support. North Carolina's guidelines are based on the ability of parents to pay and the needs of the children.

No. Federal regulations and NC law do not allow the Child Support Services office to provide services for visitation or custody disputes. Child support and visitation rights are separate issues. For these issues, consult with a private attorney.

Mail your payments to:
NC Child Support Centralized Collections
PO Box 900006
Raleigh, NC 27675-9006

Checks (including personal checks) and money orders through regular mail. Include your payment coupon with the payment, and write your MPI number on the check. Child Support Services recommends that you do not send cash though the mail. Income Withholding Payments are deducted from your wages and sent to Child Support Services by your employer. Bank Draft payments are automatically deducted from your designated bank account. To schedule a bank draft payment online, go to 'Pay Child Support' on the eChild Support web site. You may also pay by credit card at the NC Child Support Payment Processing Center webpage.

Every participant in a Child Support Services case is assigned a Master Participant Index (MPI) number, a unique 10-digit identification number. Your MPI number appears on your payment coupons. If you do not have a payment coupon, Child Support Services Customer Service Center at 1-800-992-9457 from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or contact Guilford County Child Support Services.

For Non-Public Assistance (NPA) cases, the client's check should be mailed on the next business day after the payment was receipted. For public assistance cases in which a TANF check has been issued to the client, the child support check is mailed to the client at the end of the month.

The percentage of disposable income that is withheld cannot exceed:

• Forty percent (40%) of disposable income when you have only one support order.
• Forty-five percent (45%) of disposable income when you have multiple support orders and you are supporting a spouse or other children.
• Fifty percent (50%) of disposable income when you have multiple support orders and you are not supporting a spouse or other children.
• However, employers can withhold an amount more than the maximum allowed by law if you provide Child Support Services with a notarized written statement that allows a higher percentage to be withheld.

NC law does not require recipients of child support to provide an accounting of how child support is utilized. However, it is an expectation that child support is to provide housing, clothing, food, and all the essentials a child needs.

Child Support Enforcement can intercept the federal and/or state tax refund of an obligor/noncustodial parent (NCP) who owes past due child support. For federal tax intercept, the NCP must owe at least $500 in past due child support for his/her Non-Public Assistance cases or at least $150 for Public Assistance cases. For state tax intercept, the NCP must owe at least $50 for his/her Non-Public Assistance cases.

Intercepted tax refunds are used to pay child support debt that is owed to the state first and then to pay the custodial parent/client. Custodial parents/clients cannot receive tax intercept payments unless the NCP has filed taxes and is eligible for a tax refund. NCPs might not be eligible for a tax refund if they owe past due taxes or did not pay enough taxes during their employment to qualify for a refund. Any funds that remain after the NCP's child support debt is paid off are returned to the NCP.

When the obligor/noncustodial parent (NCP) files a joint tax return, some of that tax refund could be owed to his/her spouse. Child Support Service puts a hold on funds from an intercepted federal tax refund for six months to allow the spouse to file a claim for his/her share of the refund. If the NCP and spouse sign a notarized statement with both of their Social Security numbers that waives the spouse's right to file a claim, Child Support Services releases the held funds upon receipt of the affidavit.

In North Carolina, if the child has graduated or stopped attending high school at age 18, the noncustodial parent (NCP) can stop paying ongoing child support. However, the NCP is responsible for any arrearages that are still owed.

Child Support Services automatically reviews child support orders every three years if the family is receiving public assistance. Other orders being enforced through Child Support Services office can be reviewed every three years, if either parent requests a review. A review can be requested at any time if a substantial change in circumstances occurs. Child Support Services determines the present income and assets of both parents and the needs of the child(ren). If appropriate, Child Support Services then can seek to modify the order.

Other enforcement remedies include:

• Filing court action against NCPs who have not paid support as ordered
• Credit bureau reporting of all child support obligations handled by Child Support Services
• Interception of state and federal tax refunds
• Liens on real or personal property that the NCP owns
• Bank Levy
• Professional license revocation

You can complete the application by visiting one of our offices, contacting Guilford County Child Support Services and requesting an application be mailed to you, or submitting an online application.

A nonrefundable $25 application fee is required to apply for applicants who are not receiving public assistance services. You could be eligible for a reduced fee of $10. Ask about this when you apply. For more information, contact one of our offices.

Child Support Services provides the following services: location of noncustodial parents, paternity establishment for children born outside of marriage, establishment of support obligations, collection and distribution of support, and enforcement of support obligations.

The length of time depends upon the unique circumstance of each case. Some cases are more complicated and require more time. Providing additional information when requested, helps Child Support Services get a child support order more quickly. Factors contributing to the complexity of the case can include:

• Difficulty in locating the noncustodial parent
• Paternity establishment
• Multiple potential fathers
• Noncustodial parent lives in another state

If possible, provide the following documents:

• A copy of the divorce decree, separation agreement or court order for child support
• A copy of the Affidavit of Parentage, if one has been signed
• Birth certificate(s) of the child(ren) involved
• Documents that reflect both parents' incomes (paycheck stubs, tax returns, bank statement, etc.)
• Evidence of child support payment history
• Other documents might be needed, depending on your case

Work First applicants/recipients must cooperate with Child Support Services by providing information about the noncustodial parent, unless the Work First agency determines that 'good cause' exists for noncooperation (such as the potential for emotional/physical harm to the child or caretaker.) If good cause is granted, the case is not referred to Child Support Services. Contact your Work First caseworker for information on how to make a claim of good cause.

Make sure that you keep Child Support Services informed immediately of changes to your address. If a child support check is returned to Child Support Services due to an incorrect address, it is not reissued until a new address becomes available. Call the Child Support Services Customer Service Center at 1-800-992-9457 from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or contact Guilford County Child Support Services.

Call the Child Support Services Customer Service Center at 1-800-992-9457 from 7:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or contact Guilford County Child Support Services.

The customer service telephone number for Greensboro and High Point Child Support Services is 336-641-4227.

The Child Support Services Customer Service Center serves as the gateway for all questions from our customers. The toll-free phone number is 1-800-992-9457. This number puts you in contact with the Voice Response Unit, which is available seven (7) days per week. Information is available in English or Spanish. Have your MPI number available. A menu describes your options. Press the appropriate number to go directly to the information you want, or press '0' to speak to a customer service representative. You also can contact Child Support Services customer service representatives by regular mail or by completing the Contact Us form. This provides you with information on how to contact a representative.

No. However, as the Child Support Services agency receives more information on a noncustodial parent, its ability to locate that noncustodial parent increases.

Establishing paternity is one of the core services provided by Child Support Services. It identifies the legal father of a child, which ensures certain rights for the child and access to the father's medical information and benefits. Also, a child support order cannot be established for a child born out of wedlock unless the alleged father acknowledges paternity or is found to be the legal father by court order.

The simONE/NCKIDSCARD is a debit card that is issued to recipients who do not have direct deposit. Child support payments are no longer mailed in check form. They are now deposited directly on the debit card. More information and frequently asked questions are available on the NC Child Support Services website.