Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way
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Child Support
The Child Support and Paternity Program began when Congress enacted Title IV D of the Social Security Act in 1975. The purpose of the program is to locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity, and establish and enforce support obligations. This includes medical support owed by non-custodial parents to their children and the spouse, or former spouse, with whom the children may reside. The program provides services to both public assistance and non-public assistance clients, including families who are receiving or formerly received assistance under the TANF, Foster Care, and Medicaid Programs, as well as any other families who apply for services.
The child support program is state supervised and county administered. County welfare agencies are responsible for providing assistance in the location of non-custodial parents, establishing paternity, and obtaining orders for child and medical support. The Division of Family Development also has cooperative agreements with several public agencies to assist in the administration of the program, including, for example, the Administrative Office of the Courts, County Sheriff Departments and the Department of Labor.
