Best Child Support in Maryland — 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 Maryland

Maryland circuit courts handle family law in each of its 24 jurisdictions, with magistrates hearing many child support and custody matters. The Child Support Administration operates under the Department of Human Services. Baltimore, Columbia, Silver Spring, Frederick, and Rockville anchor the population. Maryland Legal Aid, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, and the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence serve women.

8 Resources

1. Maryland Child Support Administration — Free

Maryland Child Support Administration helps women establish, collect, and modify child support orders statewide. Services include locating non-custodial parents, paternity establishment, setting support amounts, and enforcing payments through wage garnishment and license suspension. Call 800-332-6347 or apply at your local DHS office. Bring the child's birth certificate, photo ID, and any prior court orders. Free if receiving TANF; nominal fee for other qualifying applicants. Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm at 311 W Saratoga St, Baltimore.

800-332-6347 · 311 W Saratoga St, Baltimore, MD 21201 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Maryland Child Support Online Portal — Free

Maryland's online child support portal allows custodial mothers to view payment history, track case status, update contact information, and submit service requests. Log in with your case number through the DHS website. Available 24/7. Call 800-332-6347 for help setting up access or resolving payment discrepancies. Useful for monitoring compliance, documenting arrears, and requesting enforcement actions without visiting a DHS office. A convenient tool for managing your child support case from home or your phone.

800-332-6347 · Online Service · Online 24/7

3. Maryland Legal Aid — Child Support Help — Free

Maryland Legal Aid provides free legal assistance with child support modification and enforcement for qualifying low-income women. Services include help filing for modification when income changes, enforcing unpaid orders, and understanding your rights in support proceedings. Call 410-539-5340 or email info@mdlab.org. Located at 500 E Lexington St, Baltimore. Income eligibility required. Bring current support order, payment history, and proof of income changes. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm.

410-539-5340 · 500 E Lexington St, Baltimore, MD 21202 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website

4. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

The National Child Support Enforcement Association is a professional organization supporting child support agency workers and advocating for policy improvements that benefit custodial parents. Their website provides educational resources on how child support programs operate, enforcement tools available to states, and policy updates. Visit ncsea.org to access publications and find information on how support workers can better assist women navigating the child support system. Free to access online.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

The federal Office of Child Support Services maintains a directory with direct links and contact information for every state and tribal child support enforcement agency. Use this resource to quickly locate the Maryland Child Support Administration or the agency in any state where the other parent resides. Interstate cases are handled through the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act. Access the directory free at acf.hhs.gov — no registration required. Essential for mothers dealing with out-of-state support situations.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Single Mother Guide provides free, comprehensive plain-language information to help single mothers apply for child support, understand the modification process, and enforce unpaid orders. Articles cover what to do when a father refuses to pay, how to find a non-custodial parent, and what happens when the other parent lives in another state. Access the full child support resource library at singlemotherguide.com — no registration needed. A practical starting resource for mothers who are new to the support system.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

7. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides parent-focused educational content at HealthyChildren.org on child support fundamentals for separating parents, including how support is calculated, the impact of parental conflict on children, and how to maintain a child-focused approach during legal proceedings. Guidance is written by pediatric professionals to help parents understand the financial and emotional dimensions of supporting children after separation. Free to access 24/7 — no account required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

8. National Family Support Network — Free

The National Family Support Network strengthens families through quality support services, peer-to-peer connections, and policy advocacy. NFSN links mothers to family resource centers, home visiting programs, and parenting education classes in communities nationwide. Their online directory helps women find local family support programs that offer parenting coaching, financial guidance, and crisis assistance. Visit nationalfamilysupportnetwork.org to access the program locator. Free to use — no registration required.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in Maryland?
Women's Corner tracks 8 verified child support resources for women in Maryland.
Are child support resources in Maryland free?
8 of the 8 listed child support resources in Maryland are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Maryland have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Baltimore.
What are some examples of child support resources in Maryland?
Featured entries include Maryland Child Support Administration, Maryland Child Support Online Portal, Maryland Legal Aid — Child Support Help, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
3 of 8 Maryland 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.