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 Massachusetts
Massachusetts Probate and Family Courts handle divorce, custody, paternity, and child support in each of its 14 counties. The Department of Revenue Child Support Enforcement Division runs enforcement. Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell are the largest cities. Greater Boston Legal Services, Community Legal Aid, Volunteer Lawyers Project, and Jane Doe Inc. (MA DV/SA coalition) serve women.
11 Resources
CSE, run by the Department of Revenue at 600 Washington Street in Boston, is the state IV-D agency. Staff establish paternity, set guideline orders, enforce wage withholding, intercept Massachusetts and federal tax refunds, suspend driver and professional licenses for arrears, and process interstate cases under UIFSA. Mothers can open a case for free regardless of public-benefits status. Call 800-332-2733 weekdays 8:30am-5pm; have the father's last known address and employer ready.
800-332-2733 · 600 Washington St, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
DOR's online case management portal lets custodial mothers view payments, balances, and enforcement actions in real time and submit modification requests without standing in line. Direct deposit, EBT, and check options are all available. The portal is online 24/7; call 800-332-2733 weekdays if you need help registering or have a Massachusetts-specific case question.
800-332-2733 · Statewide Online Resource · 24/7 Online · Visit Website
DOR's Worcester regional office at 446 Main Street handles intake, modifications, and enforcement for Worcester County child support cases, with attorneys appearing in the Worcester Probate and Family Court at 225 Main Street. Mothers can drop off documents in person Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm or call 508-792-7412. Spanish-speaking caseworkers are typically available.
508-792-7412 · 446 Main St, Suite 400, Worcester, MA 01608 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
DOR's Springfield regional office at 174 Bridge Street serves Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire county custodial mothers with case management, paternity establishment, and enforcement support. Attorneys appear in the Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, and Pittsfield Probate and Family Courts. Call 413-784-1482 weekdays 8:30am-5pm; walk-in service is available at the Bridge Street office.
413-784-1482 · 174 Bridge St, Springfield, MA 01103 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Northeast Legal Aid at 35 John Street in Lowell represents low-income mothers in Essex and Middlesex counties on contested child support, paternity, and modification cases filed in the Lawrence and Cambridge Probate and Family Courts. Particularly useful when DOR's enforcement options aren't moving a case forward. Call 978-458-1465 weekdays 9am-5pm; intake screens for income at or below 125 percent of federal poverty.
978-458-1465 · 35 John St, Suite 302, Lowell, MA 01852 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
The Trial Court publishes the official Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines and a built-in worksheet calculator updated most recently in 2021. Plug in both parents' gross weekly incomes, parenting-time percentages, health insurance premiums, and child care costs to see what a Probate and Family Court judge would presumptively order. Helpful before filing for modification so you know whether the change clears the inconsistency threshold. Call 617-788-8300 for guideline questions.
617-788-8300 · Statewide Online Resource · 24/7 Online · Visit Website
NCSEA is the professional association for IV-D workers — useful background for Massachusetts custodial mothers researching how DOR caseworkers are trained, what policy changes are coming on interest charges, arrears forgiveness, and license suspension, and why their case is handled the way it is. Free public resources at ncsea.org.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Federal OCSS directory with direct links to the IV-D agency in all 50 states, DC, and tribal jurisdictions. Essential when a Massachusetts mother's co-parent has moved out of state and DOR needs a partner agency to initiate or enforce an interstate UIFSA case. Free public site, no login.
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Independent plain-language guide written for single mothers explaining how to apply, modify, and enforce support across state systems. The Massachusetts section flags DOR's 90-day enforcement waiting period, the modification threshold under the state guidelines, and how MassHealth assignment of support rights works for mothers on benefits. Free, ad-supported.
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American Academy of Pediatrics resource explaining how a court-ordered support obligation interacts with a child's access to health insurance — relevant in Massachusetts where Probate and Family Court judges routinely add a medical support provision and coordinate with MassHealth. Useful pre-hearing reading. Free.
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NFSN coordinates state Family Support Programs and shares research relevant to Massachusetts on father engagement, two-parent involvement, and arrears-reduction pilot programs. Useful for mothers exploring whether DOR will negotiate down state-owed arrears once the noncustodial parent has steady income. Free resource library.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website