IV-D Child Support Enforcement Complaint

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IMPORTANT — READ BEFORE FILING

IV-D is FREE. The North Carolina Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) handles your case at no charge. You do not need a private attorney for IV-D enforcement.
The State acts as your attorney. A CSEA caseworker — not a private lawyer — will handle your case. You will not have an attorney-client relationship with the CSEA caseworker.
IV-D cases are slower than private cases. The CSEA handles high caseloads. If you need immediate enforcement, a private attorney may act faster.
Conflict with private representation. If you already have a private attorney handling child support, filing a IV-D case may create conflicts. Discuss with your attorney first.
Public assistance recipients: If you receive Work First (TANF/Medicaid), participation in IV-D is mandatory — not optional.

01 CUSTODIAL PARENT INFORMATION

Full Legal Name *

County of Residence *

Current Address *

Phone Number

SSN Last 4 Digits Only

⚠ Enter last 4 digits only. Full SSN submitted separately to CSEA on secured forms.

Custodial Parent's Employer (if employed)

02 CHILD(REN)

03 NON-CUSTODIAL PARENT INFORMATION

Provide as much information as you know. Unknown information can be left blank — the CSEA has locate services.

Full Legal Name *

Date of Birth (if known)

Last Known Address

Employer (if known)

SSN Last 4 Digits (if known)

Other Identifying Information (physical description, license plate, other known addresses)

04 EXISTING COURT ORDERS

Is there an existing child support order?

05 SERVICES REQUESTED — CHECK ALL THAT APPLY

Locate the non-custodial parent (address, employer, assets) Establish paternity (legal parentage of the child) Establish a new child support order Enforce an existing child support order (income withholding, contempt) Collect past-due support / arrears Medical support order (require non-custodial parent to provide health insurance)

06 PATERNITY

Has paternity (legal parentage) been established for the child(ren)?

Do you want the CSEA to pursue paternity establishment?

AUTHORIZATION AND COOPERATION REQUIREMENT

By filing this complaint and opening a IV-D case, you authorize the NC Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) to pursue child support on your behalf. You are required to cooperate fully with the agency, including providing information, attending hearings, and complying with requests.

If you receive public assistance (Work First / TANF / Medicaid): Any child support collected will first go to the State to reimburse public assistance payments. You will receive the remainder, if any. Your cooperation is mandatory as a condition of receiving benefits.

If you do NOT receive public assistance: You are entitled to all child support collected on your behalf. Cooperation is still required.

A IV-D case does not preclude you from also having a private attorney, but coordination between private counsel and the CSEA is important to avoid conflicts.

G.S. 110-130.1 — Cooperation requirement for recipients of public assistance.

STATUTORY REFERENCE

G.S. 110-130IV-D child support enforcement

G.S. 110-130.1Cooperation requirement

G.S. 50-13.4Child support — NC Guidelines

42 U.S.C. § 651Title IV-D federal law

G.S. 50-13.9UIFSA — interstate enforcement

IV-D vs. PRIVATE ACTION

IV-D: Free; handled by CSEA caseworker; slower; CSEA controls strategy; if on public assistance, payments go to State first
Private action: Attorney fees apply; your attorney controls the case; typically faster; all payments go directly to you
Both options can result in income withholding orders from the non-custodial parent's employer
You cannot have both a private attorney pursuing child support AND a IV-D case simultaneously without coordination — this can create duplicate enforcement actions

WHERE TO FILE

File this complaint with your county Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA), not with the court directly
The CSEA is typically housed within your county Department of Social Services (DSS)
Find your county CSEA: ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/child-support
Keep a copy of everything you submit to the CSEA

ENFORCEMENT TOOLS AVAILABLE

Income withholding from employer (automatic for IV-D cases)
IRS tax refund intercept
State tax refund intercept
Driver's license suspension
Passport denial
Credit bureau reporting
Contempt of court (jail time possible)
Property liens