Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§660 Civil Action to Enforce Child Support Obligations; Jurisdiction of District Courts

Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER IV — GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES › Part D — Child Support and Establishment of Paternity › § 660

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Federal district courts can hear civil cases that the Secretary of Health and Human Services certifies under section 652(a)(8). There is no minimum dollar amount required, and the case can be filed in any federal district where the claim happened, where the person bringing the case lives, or where the person being sued lives.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §660

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, without regard to any amount in controversy, to hear and determine any civil action certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 652(a)(8) of this title. A civil action under this section may be brought in any judicial district in which the claim arose, the plaintiff resides, or the defendant resides.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1984—Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “Health and Human Services” for “Health, Education, and Welfare”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective July 18, 1984, but not to be construed as changing or affecting any right, liability, status, or interpretation which existed (under the provisions of law involved) before that date, see section 2664(b) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 660

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102