Child Support Bureau Flip-Flops Name Back to the Old One – Why?
Published Date: 12/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The Administration for Children and Families is renaming its Office of Child Support Services to the Office of Child Support Enforcement. This change updates the office’s mission and clarifies its role in helping families get child support and establish paternity. The update affects state and tribal child support programs but doesn’t change funding or deadlines.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal Parent Locator Service Continues
The Office of Child Support Enforcement operates the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) and uses data matching (including NDNH) to help locate parents and support child support collection. The notice says FPLS also helps prevent improper payments in state and federal benefit programs and provides data and technical support to states and tribes.
Arrearage Certifications Can Trigger Passport Denial
The Office will transmit certifications of child support arrearages to the Secretary of State for passport denial and certify amounts to the Secretary of the Treasury for collection actions. This means people with certified past-due child support can face passport denial and Treasury collection steps as described in the notice.
Office Renamed, Role Clarified
The Administration for Children and Families renamed the Office of Child Support Services to the Office of Child Support Enforcement and updated its mission. The notice says the change clarifies the office’s role in helping families establish paternity and get child support and provides direction and oversight to state and tribal child support programs.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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