Interstate Child Support: When the Payer Lives in Another State

Child support does not stop at state lines. The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), adopted by all 50 states, provides a framework for establishing, enforcing, and modifying child support orders across state lines. When a payer moves to another state or lives in a different state from the custodial parent, the legal tools are different but not weaker.

Which State Has Jurisdiction

Under UIFSA, the state that issued the original order retains continuing exclusive jurisdiction as long as one party — either the custodial parent or the paying parent — still lives there. If both parties have moved to different states, jurisdiction transfers to the state where the paying parent lives for modification purposes, but the original order remains valid and enforceable everywhere.

Enforcement in the Payer’s State

California DCSS can register the California order in the payer’s state for enforcement. The payer’s state is then obligated to treat the California order as if it were their own and use all available enforcement tools — wage garnishment, bank levy, license suspension — under their own law. The custodial parent does not need to appear in the payer’s state court.

Federal Parent Locator Service

DCSS has access to the federal Parent Locator Service, which can locate a payer’s address, employer, and financial accounts across all 50 states using Social Security number. This resource is available for enrolled DCSS cases and can locate payers who have moved specifically to avoid collection.

Educational use only. Not legal advice. Justice Foundation.