Best Child Support in Arizona — 8 resources

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.

Child Support in Arizona

Arizona handles custody (called 'legal decision-making' and 'parenting time') in superior courts across all 15 counties. The Division of Child Support Services operates under DES. Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, and Chandler are the largest metros. Community Legal Services, Southern Arizona Legal Aid, and the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence support women statewide.

8 Resources

1. Arizona Division of Child Support Services — Free

DCSS, housed inside the Department of Economic Security at 3443 N Central in Phoenix, is the state IV-D agency. Staff establish paternity, set guideline orders, enforce withholding, and intercept Arizona tax refunds for arrears. Mothers can open a case for free regardless of public-benefits status. Call 602-252-4045 or apply online; have the father's last known address and employer ready.

602-252-4045 · 3443 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012 · Mon-Fri 7am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Arizona Child Support Calculator — Free

Official Arizona Supreme Court guideline calculator updated under the 2022 guidelines. Plug in both parents' gross incomes, the parenting-time schedule in days per year, daycare costs, and health-insurance premiums to see what a judge would presumptively order. Helpful before filing for modification so you know whether the change clears the 15% threshold.

Online resource · 24/7 online · Visit Website

3. Maricopa County Clerk — Child Support Filings — Free

The Clerk of the Superior Court at 201 W Jefferson processes Maricopa County child-support petitions, IV-D referrals, and modification packets. Use the e-filing portal for free if you have a Maricopa account, or file in person at the Customer Service Center. Call 602-506-3676 to confirm filing fees and fee-waiver eligibility.

602-506-3676 · 201 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85003 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

4. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

NCSEA is the professional association for IV-D workers — useful for mothers researching how Arizona's caseworkers are trained and what policy changes are coming on interest, arrears forgiveness, and license suspension. Their publications explain why your case is handled the way it is.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

Federal OCSS directory with direct links to the IV-D agency in all 50 states and tribes. Essential when your child's father has moved out of Arizona and you need to initiate an interstate case under UIFSA.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Independent guide written for single mothers explaining how to apply, modify, and enforce support across state systems. The Arizona section flags state-specific deadlines and the 90-day waiting period before DCSS will pursue most enforcement actions.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free

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 Arizona courts routinely add. Useful reading before a hearing where insurance will be addressed.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. National Family Support Network — Free

NFSN coordinates state Family Support Programs and shares Arizona-relevant research on father engagement, two-parent involvement, and arrears-reduction pilot programs. Useful for mothers exploring how to negotiate down uncollectible arrears once the father is back at work.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in Arizona?
Women's Corner tracks 8 child support resources for women in Arizona.
Are child support resources in Arizona free?
8 of the 8 listed child support resources in Arizona are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Arizona have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Phoenix.
What are some examples of child support resources in Arizona?
Featured entries include Arizona Division of Child Support Services, Arizona Child Support Calculator, Maricopa County Clerk — Child Support Filings, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
2 of 8 Arizona child support listings include phone numbers.
How do I open a child support case?
Apply free through your state's Child Support Services agency — online, by mail, or in person at the local office. The agency establishes paternity if needed, locates the other parent, calculates the order, and enforces collection through wage garnishment, tax intercepts, and license suspension. You don't need the father's cooperation to open a case.
What if the father isn't paying?
Report non-payment to your state Child Support Services agency — they have enforcement tools you can't access alone, including wage garnishment, federal/state tax refund intercepts, passport denial, driver's license suspension, and contempt prosecution. Keep your contact info current with the agency so payments route to you correctly.
Can I get child support if we were never married?
Yes. You first establish paternity — voluntarily through an Acknowledgment of Paternity form, or through a court-ordered DNA test if the father disputes it. Once paternity is legal, the court issues a support order based on his income. The state agency handles the whole process at no cost.
What if my support order is too low?
File a Motion to Modify with the court if there's been a substantial change — his income went up, your costs went up, custody time changed, or it's been 3+ years since the last review. Your state Child Support agency will do a free review every 3 years on request. Modifications aren't retroactive, so file as soon as circumstances change.