Ohio Child Support Payments
By Susan Buckner, J.D. | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed April 16, 2025
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The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (JFS) handles all Ohio child support orders. This agency processes all child support cases after the judge signs the court order. Under state and federal law, all child support payments must be paid through one central location. The Child Support Payment Central (CSPC) manages all payments in Ohio.
If you have an issue with child support in Ohio, contact an experienced family lawyer.
Making and Receiving Ohio Child Support Payments
The JFS Office of Child Support Services can help parents pay, receive, and modify their child support order. The office also handles the enforcement of delinquent payors. When you contact the office, be sure you have all your child support case information available, including your case number.
Statutes
Making a Child Support Payment
The Ohio Child Support Payment Central processes all support payments.
The easiest way to make child support payments is through a payroll deduction. The court can send an income deduction order to your employer, who then deducts the support payment amount from your paycheck and sends it to the CSPC.
The advantage of this method is that the payment arrives on time, and there is a record of the payment and receipt. The obligor is not involved, so there is no missed or late payment issue.
If you want to make the payment yourself, there are many other payment options:
Via Mail
Make checks or money orders payable to Ohio CSPC and mail via standard U.S. mail to:
Ohio CSPC
P.O. Box 182372
Columbus, Ohio 43218
Never send cash through the mail. Allow at least two business days for delivery. Do not send payments to your county CSEA.
Direct Deposit
You can make payments directly from your checking or savings account. You must set up the payment plan through the customer service web portal. Allow at least five business days for bank account verification.
Credit Card Payments
CSPC takes Discover, Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and other major cards. You can also use mobile app accounts like PayPal, Venmo, and Google Pay. You may choose either fixed payments or one-time payments.
Walk-In Payments
You can make cash payments, money orders, and other in-person payments at your county CSEA office. Call ahead to check if they accept walk-ins.
Some locations may accept MoneyGram payments at Wal-Mart, CVS, and other places.
Your payment information should include:
- Your name
- Social Security number
- SETS case number (10-digit number that begins with a 7)
- Court order number
The court or child support enforcement agency can't retroactively modify a parent's duty to pay a delinquent support payment.
Receiving Child Support Payments
You must receive child support payments through a mandatory electronic disbursement program. There are two ways you can get your payments.
- Direct deposit to your bank account. You receive payments within three business days of receipt at the CSPC office.
- The Ohio Platinum smiONE Visa Prepaid Card credits payments within one business day. You don't need a bank account to use the smiONE card.
Note: State laws are subject to change through the passage of new legislation, court rulings (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. FindLaw strives to provide the most current information available. You should consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) before making any legal decisions.
Ohio Child Support Payments: Related Resources
- Ohio Family Laws
- Ohio Child Custody Laws
- Ohio Child Support Enforcement
- Child Support Amounts
- How Much Child Support Will You Pay?
Contact an Ohio Family Law Attorney
If you have questions or concerns about making or getting child support payments, contact the Ohio child support customer service office or speak with an experienced Ohio child support attorney to discuss your options.
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