Virginia Child Support Enforcement Resource Center

Even if the non-custodial parent lives outside the state of Virginia, the law requires cooperation between states. The non-custodial parent is legally required to make regular child support payments, regardless of where they live.

Virginia Support Enforcement Measures

If a non-custodial parent does not pay child support, he or she is subject to enforcement measures in accordance with Federal and Virginia child support law to collect regular and past-due payments.

Who Can Enforce Court Ordered Child Support in Virginia?

The Virginia Division of Child Support Enforcement is the state-run child support enforcement office for Virginia. The Virginia Department of Social Services is required by federal law to provide services through Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) and is funded by the federal government and the state of Virginia.

VIRGINIA DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT CASELOAD STATISTICS1
Full Time Equiv. Staff 1,005
Total Caseload 349,243

1 U.S. Office of Child Support Enforcement, Boxscores for FY 2005

Interest on Missed Child Support Payments

Virginia provides for interest to be charged on late child support payments and adjudicated arrears at a rate of 6% on amounts unpaid after 30 days.

Virginia Statute of Limitations on Back Child Support Payments (Arrears)

Enforcement of past due child support in Virginia is not subject to a Statute of Limitations.

Virginia Statute of Limitations for Determination of Paternity

In Virginia, paternity must be established by the child's 18th birthday.

Age of Emancipation / Age of Majority in Virginia

The age of emancipation in Virginia is 18 years of age. Support may continue for any dependent child that is a full-time high school student and living in the home of the parent, until the child reaches age 19 or graduates from high school, whichever comes first. (Code of Virginia, 16.1-228)

How Are Child Support Payment Amounts Determined in Virginia?

Virginia uses the Child Support Guideline established by the Virginia General Assembly. Virginia's Guideline takes into account things as the needs of the child and each parent's income. The Guideline is available at all public libraries and child support offices throughout the Commonwealth. The actual amount of the order ultimately depends on the individual circumstances of each case.

Custody and Visitation Issues

Child support and visitation rights are separate issues. The court determines both and will usually order the non-custodial parent to pay support and the custodial parent to make the child available for visits.

The custodial parent must obey the court order for visitation, even if the non-custodial parent cannot or will not pay child support. The court can enforce any of its orders against either parent.

Our clients say...

It took me 10 years to catch up with my husband to establish a court order for child support. Years had gone by and his debt was in the thousands. I got Human Services involved and they told me that because I was now in a different state I had to close my case and had to open my case there. Weeks after I sent the paperwork to the Child Support Enforcement office, I received a letter saying I needed to attach notarized proof of previous payements made etc, etc, etc. I was tired of going through the process of trying to get child support owed.

I found the website for Support Collectors. I figured it probably wouldn't work and a lot of paperwork would be required...Well, there was not a lot of paperwork. It was so easy, I don't know why these other agencies need so much stuff when Support Collectors took the basic information and I had payment coming in in less than 6 weeks (this includes the time that I filed). Support Collectors kept in contact with me and was able to establish a settlement in no time. I was really surprised. I would recommend this service to anyone else (man or woman). The service was excellent.
- Lee M., Alabama
Collected $26,000


After many years of searching through various agencies for my ex-husband, a dear friend told me about the Support Collectors web site. I logged on and requested an application, thinking to myself it won't make a difference. We hadn't found him in 19 years, they won't be able to find him either. To my surprise they did and very quickly. Support Collectors handled everything very professionally and I received my settlement of $60,000 within a few months!

I would highly recommend Support Collectors to anyone who is owed child support. Thank you Support Collectors for doing what I thought was completely hopeless.
- Terry M., Illinois
Collected $26,000


Thank you so much for your help in getting the child support payments my daughter deserves! I only wish I would not have waited so long to contact you for assistance. You succeeded when everyone else had failed.

Don't try to handle this problem on your own with the department of child support services who are drowning in a sea of paperwork, let Support Collectors take care of you personally. The best part is that you don't owe them anything until they get payments for you and believe me, it is worth every penny.
- Teresa H., Illinois
Collected $26,000