Office of the Prosecuting Attorney

Franklin County, Missouri 

104A SOUTH MCKINLEY AVENUE

UNION, MISSOURI 63084

PHONE  636 -583-8010

FAX  636 -583-3341

Purpose

The Child Support Enforcement Office in Union, Missouri is a division of the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.  The Franklin County Child Support division receives cases from the state child support office to prosecute through the court system.  These cases include enforcement of an existing child support order, i.e. when there was a divorce decree that ordered child support to be paid, and the support is not being paid, or obtaining a paternity and child support order, i.e. a child is born out of wedlock.  The Child Support Enforcement Office does not handle the issues of visitation or custody.

INITIATING A CASE

Cases are initiated at the State office level.  We do not open cases at our office.  A custodial parent may open a child support case by contacting the appropriate district office for the county where the custodial parent resides. 

WHERE TO SEND CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENTS

Child support payments are to be made payable to:

Family Support Payment Center

 and mailed to

 Family Support Payment Center

P.O. Box 109002

Jefferson City, MO  65102-9002

You must include you case number and the custodial parent’s name on your mode of payment so it will be credited to the correct case.  For additional payment information, you may call 1-800-225-0530.  This automated line will provide the last three collections and disbursements on a case. You must have your eight-digit case identification number. 
 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I was divorced in Franklin County.  Why doesn’t Union Child Support have my child support case? 

All child support cases are initiated through a state office that handles the cases for the county where the custodial parent lives.  The Child Support Enforcement office in Union is a division of the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Can I open a child support case at the Child Support Division of the Prosecutor’s Office in Union?

No.  You must open a case at the state office, which handles the county where the custodial parent lives.

Do all child support cases get referred to the Franklin County Division of Child Support?

No.  Some cases are handled administratively by the state office.  Cases that require prosecution through the courts are referred to the Child Support Division of the Prosecuting Attorney’s office.

Can an order be established or enforced if the noncustodial parent lives in another state?

Yes.  This can be done through UIFSA, Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, which enables Child Support Enforcement to ask another state to establish or enforce a child support order where the noncustodial parent resides.

Why is Child Support Enforcement initiating a child support case when I did not request it?

If you have received any assistance from the State of Missouri, i.e. TANF, Medicaid, etc., the state office will automatically initiate a child support case and either establish a child support order or enforce an existing child support order.

Will the Franklin County Division of Child Support request that my case be sent to their office?

All referrals that are received in the Franklin County office must meet certain criteria for legal action.  The state office makes the determination whether or not the case will be sent to the prosecutor’s office.  The prosecutor’s office cannot ask the state office to send a referral.

How will I know if the case is referred to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office?

The custodial parent will be contacted by letter when the investigator is ready to proceed with legal action. 

My case is at the state office and I am having trouble contacting my caseworker? 

The state has a Customer Relations Unit you may contact with any problems you are having with your current state caseworker.  The number is (800) 859-7999

Will Child Support Enforcement get involved with visitation or custody issues?

No.  Child Support Enforcement only deals with child support issues.

If I have never been married to the father of my child, can I get child support? 

Yes.  Child Support Enforcement can establish legal paternity and obtain a child support and medical support order when the father and mother have never been married.

How is paternity determined?

Child Support Enforcement can arrange for DNA testing.  This is done using Buccall swabs, which consists of rubbing the inside of the mouth with a cotton swab.  If the DNA tests show that the man is the child’s father, the court may enter an order establishing paternity.

How do I start a modification on an existing order?

An order must be three years old before the state office would consider a modification to increase or decrease the child support.  You must contact the state office that handles the cases for the county where the custodial parent lives to initiate a modification.

How is the amount of child support determined?

The child support amount is determined using a Form 14.  The Missouri Supreme Court set the guidelines which consider both parents’ income. 

When paternity is established, will the child’s last name change?

Normally not.  This must be done through a private attorney.

FREQUENTLY USED TERMS