Best Child Support in Missouri — 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 Missouri

Missouri circuit courts hear family matters through family court divisions in each of its 45 judicial circuits. The Family Support Division runs child support enforcement under DSS. Kansas City, Saint Louis, Springfield, and Columbia are the largest metros. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Legal Aid of Western Missouri, and the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence serve women.

8 Resources

1. Missouri Family Support Division — Child Support — Free

FSD's Child Support Enforcement unit at 615 Howerton Court in Jefferson City is Missouri's IV-D agency. Staff establish paternity, set guideline orders under RSMo 452.340, enforce withholding, and intercept Missouri tax refunds for arrears. Mothers can open a case for free regardless of public-benefits status. Call 800-859-7999 with the father's last known address and employer ready.

800-859-7999 · 615 Howerton Ct, Jefferson City, MO 65109 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. Missouri Child Support Online Portal — Free

FSD's self-service portal lets custodial mothers check payment history, update their address, request a modification, and download statements without phoning the caseworker. Best used in the evenings when call lines back up. Sign in with your participant ID at mochildsupport.com; call 800-859-7999 for portal access help.

800-859-7999 · Statewide Online Resource · 24/7 Online

3. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri — Child Support — Free

LSEM at 4232 Forest Park Avenue in St. Louis represents low-income mothers in custody and child-support proceedings across the city, St. Louis County, Jefferson, Franklin, and 17 other eastern Missouri counties. Call 314-534-4200 weekday mornings for an income screening; bring any existing FSD case number and the child's birth certificate.

314-534-4200 · 4232 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website

4. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

NCSEA is the professional association for IV-D workers — useful for Missouri mothers researching how FSD caseworkers are trained and what policy changes are coming on interest, arrears forgiveness, and license suspension. Their publications explain why your Show-Me case is being 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 Missouri and you need to initiate an interstate case under UIFSA through FSD.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Independent guide for single mothers explaining how to apply, modify, and enforce support across state systems. The Missouri section flags Family Support Division deadlines, Form CS-201 application, and the in-state arrears-collection tools FSD typically uses.

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 Missouri family courts routinely add when a parent has employer coverage. 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 research on father engagement and arrears-reduction pilots — relevant to Missouri mothers exploring how to negotiate down uncollectible arrears once the noncustodial father is back at work.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in Missouri?
Women's Corner tracks 8 child support resources for women in Missouri.
Are child support resources in Missouri free?
8 of the 8 listed child support resources in Missouri are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in Missouri have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Jefferson City, St. Louis.
What are some examples of child support resources in Missouri?
Featured entries include Missouri Family Support Division — Child Support, Missouri Child Support Online Portal, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri — Child Support, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
3 of 8 Missouri 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.