Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I Contact DCSE through the E-mail or through the Website?
  No. For confidentiality purposes, we cannot provide case-specific information via email or non-secure websites. Please contact the Customer Service Unit or the Delaware Helpline for case-specific information .
• What Services Does DCSE Provide?
  The Division of Child Support Enforcement offers services to establish paternity, establish child support orders and enforce child support orders. A $25 fee may be required. Applications may be downloaded from our Download Forms page .
• What are DCSE's Office Hours?
  The hours for the Division of Child Support Enforcement are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• How Do I Change My Address?
  For confidentiality and security reasons your address can be changed, only upon written request. You can visit your nearest child support office and complete a change of address form or write to the division. When writing, please include your full name, your date of birth, your previous name and/or previous address and the current name and/or address, the name of the absent parent and the name of the child or children for whom support is being paid.
• How Long Will Establishing a Support Order Take?
  How much time it will take to establish a support order will depend upon a number of things. If the parent is in Delaware the process is much quicker. Generally, from the date of application, you should expect three months or longer to get a court date. If the parent is not in Delaware, the case will have to be sent to the other state and it may take from six (6) months to one (1) year to get an order for support.
  
  The amount of time needed to establish an order for support will also depend upon whether the non-custodial parent's location is known. If the location is unknown, the first step will be to locate the parent. DCSE's ability to successfully locate a non-custodial parent depends largely on how much information is provided by the applicant. The applicant is our best resource in attempting to locate a parent. For in-state cases, it generally takes about thirty (30) to forty-five (45) days to locate the parent. For out-of-state cases, it will take three (3) to six (6) months or maybe longer to locate the parent. After the parent is located, the DCSE will proceed with establishing paternity or support or enforcing an existing order for support.

Last Updated: Friday November 03 2006