Best Child Support in North Carolina — 6 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 North Carolina

North Carolina district courts handle family matters in all 100 counties, with some counties having dedicated family court sessions. The Child Support Services Section operates under DHHS. Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham, and Winston-Salem are the largest metros. Legal Aid of North Carolina and the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) serve women statewide.

6 Resources

1. NC Child Support Services — Free

NC Child Support Services works with women across North Carolina on establishing, enforcing, or modifying support orders. Reach the team at (800) 992-9457 to schedule a screening. Hours are Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, and walk-ins may be accepted depending on staffing. Free for qualifying North Carolina mothers and their children.

(800) 992-9457 · 820 S Boylan Ave, Raleigh, NC 27603 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website

2. National Child Support Enforcement Association — Free

NCSEA — professional association supporting child support workers and policy improvements for custodial mothers. Access the resource library, directory, and any helpline information directly at the website — no account is typically required. Useful for custodial mothers who need vetted, plain-language information on establishing paternity, setting support orders, wage garnishment, and modifying amounts when circumstances change. Available online 24/7 — free for qualifying women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

3. Find Your State Child Support Agency — Free

Federal directory with direct links to every state's child support enforcement office for custodial mothers. Access the resource library, directory, and any helpline information directly at the website — no account is typically required. Useful for custodial mothers who need vetted, plain-language information on establishing paternity, setting support orders, wage garnishment, and modifying amounts when circumstances change. Available online 24/7 — free for qualifying women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

4. Single Mother Guide — Child Support — Free

Comprehensive plain-language guide for single mothers on applying for, modifying, and enforcing child support. Access the resource library, directory, and any helpline information directly at the website — no account is typically required. Useful for custodial mothers who need vetted, plain-language information on establishing paternity, setting support orders, wage garnishment, and modifying amounts when circumstances change. Available online 24/7 — free for qualifying women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

5. Healthy Children — Child Support Basics — Free

American Academy of Pediatrics overview of child support fundamentals for separating parents for custodial mothers. Access the resource library, directory, and any helpline information directly at the website — no account is typically required. Useful for custodial mothers who need vetted, plain-language information on establishing paternity, setting support orders, wage garnishment, and modifying amounts when circumstances change. Available online 24/7 — free for qualifying women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

6. National Family Support Network — Free

NFSN — strengthening families through quality support services and policy advocacy. Access the resource library, directory, and any helpline information directly at the website — no account is typically required. Useful for custodial mothers who need vetted, plain-language information on establishing paternity, setting support orders, wage garnishment, and modifying amounts when circumstances change. Available online 24/7 — free for qualifying women.

Nationwide · Online · Visit Website

Frequently Asked

How many child support resources are in North Carolina?
Women's Corner tracks 6 child support resources for women in North Carolina.
Are child support resources in North Carolina free?
6 of the 6 listed child support resources in North Carolina are explicitly free or low-cost.
Which cities in North Carolina have child support resources?
Listings span cities including Raleigh.
What are some examples of child support resources in North Carolina?
Featured entries include NC Child Support Services, National Child Support Enforcement Association, Find Your State Child Support Agency, Single Mother Guide — Child Support, Healthy Children — Child Support Basics.
Do these listings include phone numbers?
1 of 6 North Carolina 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.