Private Child Support Collectors: What They Are and Whether to Use One

A small industry of private child support collection agencies operates in California — firms that take cases on contingency, pursuing arrears in exchange for a percentage of what they collect. For some custodial parents, this is a useful option. For others, it creates more problems than it solves.

How Private Collectors Work

Private child support collectors typically charge 25–33% of amounts collected. They use standard enforcement tools — liens, levies, wage garnishment — that the custodial parent could use directly. Some specialize in locating paying parents who have disappeared. The contingency structure means no upfront cost, but a significant share of any recovery.

The California Child Support Recovery System is designed to eliminate the need for private collectors. The tools these firms use are available to custodial parents directly. A custodial parent who understands how to file motions, record liens, and issue levies keeps 100% of what they collect. The kit covers every tool in the private collector’s toolkit — at a fraction of the cost.

The California Child Support Recovery System gives custodial parents the exact tools, templates, and step-by-step guidance to enforce support orders, calculate arrears, and use every enforcement mechanism available — without paying an attorney to get started. Request your free evaluation here.