1. Delaware Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) — Free
State agency for establishing, enforcing, and modifying child support orders
302-577-7171 · P.O. Box 11223, Wilmington, DE 19850 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Best Child Support in Delaware — 8 verified 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 Delaware
Delaware Family Court handles custody, visitation, and child support statewide through three county courthouses (New Castle, Kent, Sussex). The Division of Child Support Services operates under DSS. Wilmington and Dover are the population centers. Community Legal Aid Society (CLASI), Legal Services Corporation of Delaware, and the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence support women.
8 Resources
2. Delaware DHSS — Temporary Assistance (TANF) — Free
Cash assistance program that works alongside child support for families in need
800-372-2022 · Statewide Service · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
3. Delaware Courts Self-Help — Child Support Forms — Free
Free court forms and instructions for child support petitions and modifications
302-255-0850 · 500 N King St, Wilmington, DE 19801 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website
4. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free
NCSEA — professional association supporting child support workers and policy improvements.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
5. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free
Federal directory with direct links to every state's child support enforcement office.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
6. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free
Comprehensive plain-language guide for single mothers on applying for, modifying, and enforcing child support.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
7. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free
American Academy of Pediatrics overview of child support fundamentals for separating parents.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
8. National Family Support Network — Free
NFSN — strengthening families through quality support services and policy advocacy.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Frequently Asked
- How many child support resources are in Delaware?
- Women's Corner tracks 8 verified child support resources for women in Delaware.
- Are child support resources in Delaware free?
- 8 of the 8 listed child support resources in Delaware are explicitly free or low-cost.
- Which cities in Delaware have child support resources?
- Listings span cities including Wilmington.
- What are some examples of child support resources in Delaware?
- Featured entries include Delaware Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), Delaware DHSS — Temporary Assistance (TANF), Delaware Courts Self-Help — Child Support Forms, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency.
- Do these listings include phone numbers?
- 3 of 8 Delaware child support listings include verified 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.