Family Support Division
Who We Represent
The Family Support Division represents the Division of Child Support, a DSHS agency. The division works with child support agencies throughout Washington, the U.S. and internationally to establish and enforce child support and to protect the best interests of children in accordance with the laws of Washington state. The division processes more than 5,000 referrals per year.
In 2012, the Family Support Division collaborated with the Medical Examiner's Office to create a protocol for collecting genetic samples from alleged fathers who are deceased. This has allowed for paternity to be established, resulting in a child's eligibility for social security benefits. This year the division is on track to collect more than $1 million in child support from parents who have willfully avoided their child support payments.
The Family Support Division does not represent individuals in child support cases. For a case to be initiated by the prosecutor's office, it must be referred by the
Division of Child Support (DCS). Other local resources for family law cases are: