The mission of the Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) is to establish and enforce paternity and support orders, in compliance with Federal and State Laws, while providing the excellent level of service our customers expect and require.

The Stanislaus County Department of Child Support Services is a county operated, state supervised local child support agency here to provide a range of services that help ensure that our children come first by helping both parents assume responsibility for the economic and social well being, health, and stability of their children. We recognize the value of improved relationships with both parents. These services are available at no cost and include:

• Determining who a child's parents are and establishing paternity
• Locating a child's parents for the purpose of establishing or enforcing child support
• Establishing, modifying, and enforcing any court order to pay child support
• Collecting child support, if there is a valid child support order and spousal support payments
• Establishing and enforcing medical support, including dental and vision care.

There are limits to the services that we are able to provide. However, we are often able to refer parents to other resources that may be able to assist them. Services that we cannot provide but may be offered by another resource include:

• Prevention of harassment or the issuance of restraining orders
• Handle your divorce
• Establishment or enforcement of custody and visitation matters
• Child Abduction
• Establishment or enforcement of spousal support (unless the Department of Child Support Services is currently enforcing a child support order).

Please be aware that the Department of Child Support Services provides services on behalf of the State of California. The Department of Child Support Services does not represent you or your child(ren) and its attorneys are not your attorneys. Because you are not a client, the information you provide is not confidential under the attorney-client privilege and the Department of Child Support Services may provide support enforcement services to the other party in the future. The information on the case may be discussed or disclosed to the State, the Department of Social Services, other public agencies that are authorized by law to receive such information, and to the other parent or his/her attorney to the extent required by law. The Department of Child Support Services has the final say on what actions will be taken, even if you disagree.