The Vermont Office of Child Support (OCS) is the state agency responsible for establishing, collecting upon, enforcing, and modifying support orders for children who do not live with both parents.

OCS can help you to:

• Establish parentage;
• Establish an order for child and medical support;
• Modify an order for child and medical support;
• Make support payments to the custodial parent;
• Enforce an existing order for child and medical support;and
• Locate a missing non-custodial parent.

Who is eligible for services?

Services are available to custodial and non-custodial parents (and guardians) of children who are under 18 or still in high school.

Is there a cost?

If services are limited to recording and distributing support payments through the OCS Registry, the case is a Registry-Only Case. There is a $5 monthly fee for registry-only cases. Otherwise, all OCS services are free at this time.  You will be notified in advance if it becomes necessary to charge a fee. 

How do I apply?

In most cases, custodial parents who are getting public assistance or Medicaid are automatically referred to us for services. They do not have to apply. Everyone else must apply before we can provide services.

To apply for services, you must complete the Application for Child Support Services. If you are seeking support from more than one non-custodial parent, you must file a separate application for each. 

In all proceedings, OCS represents only the state’s interest in determining parentage and securing financial support for the children involved. OCS does not represent either parent.  

More Info/Assistance

• If you need more information about the services we provide, how to apply, or your rights and responsibilities as an OCS customer, please contact the OCS Helpline at 1-800-786-3214 or OCSCSU@ahs.state.vt.us.
   
• For more information about how child and medical support works in Vermont and the full range of services that we offer, you should read: Child Support in Vermont: A Handbook for Parents (pdf)