This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Child Support and Paternity issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Local Support and Domestic Relations Office Procedures
This webpage provides links to information on support collection and Domestic Relations Office procedures in various counties in Pennsylvania.
Local Support and Domestic Relations Office Procedures
This webpage provides links to information on support collection and Domestic Relations Office procedures in various counties in Pennsylvania.
McKean County Domestic Relations
Information on domestic relations/support procedures in McKean County.
Philadelphia County (Support): Support Forms
Forms from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in Support proceeding taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Warren County: Domestic Relations
Information on support procedures in Warren County. The Domestic Relations Office handles matters pertaining to child and spousal support.
Washington County: Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County
Information on the Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County. The Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Pennsylvania is the County IV-D Agency responsible for the establishment, collection, and enforcement of child and spousal support obligations. The Domestic Relations Section does not deal with divorce, custody, visitation, or any other family law-related matter.
Establish Paternity
In Pennsylvania, when a child is born to a woman who is not married to anyone at the time of birth, there is no legal relationship between the father and the child. Important information about establishing paternity in Pennsylvania is available on this page and on the website referenced on the page.
Domestic Violence and TANF Support Requirements
Information from the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association about the requirement that families who receive cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) apply for child or spousal support unless excused for good cause. [PDF] (December 2021)
Local Support and Domestic Relations Office Procedures
This webpage provides links to information on support collection and Domestic Relations Office procedures in various counties in Pennsylvania.
Medical/Health Care in Support Orders (Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook)
Information from the Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook on how to obtain health care coverage for children from a non-custodial parent in a support order. This appears on page 10 of the Handbook (Page 12 of PDF document)
Pennsylvania EPPICard/Way2Go Card
In August, 2004, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania implemented the new EPPICard™ program where custodial parents could access their payments online using a MasterCard® debit card. The EPPICard program has been moved to the Way2Go Card program as the new supplier of a MasterCard® debit card. Payments are automatically loaded onto the card and you can go to millions of MasterCard ATM and retailer locations in Pennsylvania and around the world to make purchases or receive cash.
Philadelphia County (Support): Support Forms
Forms from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in Support proceeding taking place in Philadelphia courts.
You Can Claim "GOOD CAUSE" Not to File For Child Support if You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence
If you get welfare benefits, the welfare office will expect you to file for child support. This provides information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on when you have "good cause" not to file for support due to domestic violence.
Pennsylvania EPPICard/Way2Go Card
In August, 2004, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania implemented the new EPPICard™ program where custodial parents could access their payments online using a MasterCard® debit card. The EPPICard program has been moved to the Way2Go Card program as the new supplier of a MasterCard® debit card. Payments are automatically loaded onto the card and you can go to millions of MasterCard ATM and retailer locations in Pennsylvania and around the world to make purchases or receive cash.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Family Law Handbook
This handbook provides useful information about common Family Law issues. If you need Family Law help, this handbook has good suggestions about some of the most common areas of Family Law. This handbook also gives answers to commonly asked questions. (2021)
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
You Can Claim "GOOD CAUSE" Not to File For Child Support if You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence
If you get welfare benefits, the welfare office will expect you to file for child support. This provides information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on when you have "good cause" not to file for support due to domestic violence.
Domestic Violence and TANF Support Requirements
Information from the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association about the requirement that families who receive cash assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) apply for child or spousal support unless excused for good cause. [PDF] (December 2021)
Philadelphia County (Support): Support Forms
Forms from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in Support proceeding taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Establish Paternity
In Pennsylvania, when a child is born to a woman who is not married to anyone at the time of birth, there is no legal relationship between the father and the child. Important information about establishing paternity in Pennsylvania is available on this page and on the website referenced on the page.
Medical/Health Care in Support Orders (Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook)
Information from the Pennsylvania Child Support Handbook on how to obtain health care coverage for children from a non-custodial parent in a support order. This appears on page 10 of the Handbook (Page 12 of PDF document)
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
McKean County Domestic Relations
Information on domestic relations/support procedures in McKean County.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Philadelphia County (Support): Support Forms
Forms from the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section that may be used in Support proceeding taking place in Philadelphia courts.
Serving a Defendant (Video)
This video from Summit Legal Aid, formerly Laurel Legal Services, explains how to serve an opposing party (defendant) in a lawsuit with legal papers related to the lawsuit. Parties must be notified about court proceedings against them and provided with copies of legal papers filed in the proceedings. This video explains the proper and required legal way to notify them of the proceedings (2020). Summit Legal Aid was formed when Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid and Laurel Legal Services merged into a single legal aid program on July 1, 2023.
Warren County: Domestic Relations
Information on support procedures in Warren County. The Domestic Relations Office handles matters pertaining to child and spousal support.
Washington County: Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County
Information on the Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County. The Domestic Relations Section of the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Pennsylvania is the County IV-D Agency responsible for the establishment, collection, and enforcement of child and spousal support obligations. The Domestic Relations Section does not deal with divorce, custody, visitation, or any other family law-related matter.