Last updated: June 17, 2026
Bottom line
North Dakota child support can help establish legal parentage, set a child support and medical support order, process payments, enforce unpaid support, and review an order when life changes. Start with North Dakota Child Support, the official state program.
Child support is not same-day cash help. It is a legal process. If you need food, rent help, child care, safety help, or health coverage while your case moves, use other North Dakota help at the same time.
This guide is general information only. Child support, paternity, parenting time, domestic violence, tribal jurisdiction, and court issues can affect your rights and safety. For advice about your own case, contact Child Support, the court, legal aid, a licensed lawyer, or a trained advocate.
If you need help today
If you are in danger, call 911. If filing a child support case could put you or your child at risk, talk with an advocate first. North Dakota HHS lists violence help, hotlines, and local advocacy paths.
Food, cash, health, and child care
Use North Dakota HHS Apply for Help for SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, TANF, and child care applications. You can also check ASMOM pages for North Dakota food help, North Dakota TANF, and North Dakota child care.
Rent, utilities, and local help
For local referrals, FirstLink 211 serves North Dakota and parts of Minnesota. Dial 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211. ASMOM also has a local resource guide, North Dakota housing help, and North Dakota utility help.
Safety and legal help
If there are threats, stalking, abuse, or unsafe parenting-time issues, use North Dakota safety help before taking steps that could expose your address or plans. For court help, see North Dakota legal help.
Where to start
Pick the path that matches your case now. If you do not have an order, you may need parentage and a court order first. If you already have an order, you may need payment records, enforcement, or a review.
| Your situation | Best first step | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| You do not have an order. | Use the state apply for services page. | A legal process may be needed. It can take time to locate and serve the other parent. |
| The other parent is not legally established. | Ask about how to establish paternity. | Do not sign paternity papers unless both parents are sure. The form has legal effect. |
| You have an order, but payments are missing. | Call your caseworker or use the enforcement FAQs. | Enforcement can help, but it may not create money if the paying parent has no reachable income. |
| Your income, child care cost, or parenting schedule changed. | Ask about a review request. | Child support does not change automatically. A court must approve a new amount. |
For a plain-English overview before you call, read ASMOM’s child support basics. If you need other help in the state, start with North Dakota help.
What North Dakota Child Support can do
North Dakota Child Support is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Child Support says it provides full services when it receives an application, gets a referral from TANF, Foster Care, or Medicaid, or gets a request from another state’s child support program. The state full service overview explains that limited services may be different, so ask what service level applies to your case.
| Service | What it can include | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Locate a parent | Searches for address, employer, income, and assets when possible. | Give old addresses, employers, phone numbers, relatives, and Social Security number if known. |
| Establish parentage | DNA testing or legal steps when paternity is not established. | DNA testing is not available through Child Support if paternity is already legally set. |
| Establish orders | Child support and medical support orders through a legal process. | Child Support attorneys represent the state program, not either parent personally. |
| Process payments | Receives, records, and sends support payments. | Direct payments between parents can cause record problems. Ask how to report them. |
| Enforce orders | Income withholding, tax intercepts, credit reporting, license actions, passport denial, and property tools may be used. | Enforcement depends on the order, arrears, the paying parent’s situation, and legal limits. |
| Review orders | Checks whether a support amount should be changed. | Review rules have limits. Some cases need a court motion instead. |
Ask about fees
North Dakota says some child support service fees may be charged to the person who receives support when certain conditions are met. Ask your caseworker how any current fee applies to your case.
How to apply for child support services
You can apply for full services online, print and return an application, or contact Child Support and ask for an application. The state also has a new-user start page through its child support portal. If you need help, use Child Support contact for phone, toll-free, email, fax, and TTY details.
As of this update, the main Child Support phone number is 701-328-5440 and the toll-free number is 800-231-4255. Keep a call log with the date, the name of the person you spoke with, and the next step they gave you.
Apply with what you have
Do not wait only because one paper is missing. Send what you can, then update Child Support when you find more information.
Protect your address
If there is abuse, stalking, or threats, ask how to handle address safety before you send documents or appear in court.
Use other help too
Child support can help long term, but SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, child care help, local charities, and housing programs may matter while you wait.
If paternity is not established
A support order cannot be entered against a parent until legal parentage is set. North Dakota says paternity can be established by genetic testing, presumed paternity, court action, adoption, or a voluntary acknowledgment.
A voluntary paternity acknowledgment is serious. The state says it is voluntary, but once completed and signed, it has the same effect as a court order establishing the father-child relationship. Parents give up the right to genetic testing and the right to have a court decide biological fatherhood.
Signing a paternity form does not automatically decide custody or primary residential responsibility. If parents do not agree about parenting responsibility, a court may need to decide. North Dakota courts provide a Legal Self Help center, but court staff cannot act as your lawyer.
Pause if you are unsure
If you are not sure who the biological father is, or if someone is pressuring you to sign, pause and ask Child Support, legal aid, or a lawyer before signing. For low-income legal screening, contact Legal Services contact.
How North Dakota estimates support
North Dakota does not use a simple blog percentage chart. Child Support, private attorneys, and courts use the state’s current guidelines when a support amount is set or changed. The calculator file listed by the state was updated January 1, 2026, and the state says the calculator is updated from time to time.
You can use the state calculator for a rough estimate. It is not legal advice. The real amount can depend on income, health insurance, medical support, child care, self-employment, parenting time, other children, multiple families, and court findings.
Do not rely on old charts
Older posts may show a short percentage list for North Dakota. That can be misleading. Use the current state calculator and ask for help if your case has shared parenting time, irregular income, self-employment, tribal jurisdiction, disability, or another support order.
How payments are received and recorded
When Child Support receives a payment, it processes the payment and sends it to the receiving parent. The state says direct deposit usually puts funds in the bank account within two business days after Child Support receives the payment.
If you do not enroll in direct deposit, North Dakota says you will automatically receive the smiONE card. Read the fee information before using ATMs, replacement cards, or other card services.
Try to keep payments in the official payment system. If the other parent gives you cash, pays rent, buys supplies, or sends money outside the system, ask Child Support how it should be reported. Good records protect both parents and can help if there is a dispute later.
If payments stop or never start
If there is an order and payments are late, contact your caseworker. North Dakota says support is due no later than the date in the court order, and Child Support can take increased enforcement action the longer support goes unpaid.
Tools may include income withholding, tax refund intercept, credit reporting, license suspension, passport denial, freezing certain property, and asking another jurisdiction for help. Some tools take time. Tax intercepts, for example, can take weeks before Child Support receives funds, and some held payments may take longer before release.
Parenting time is separate
North Dakota Child Support says parenting time and child support are separate rights of the child. Do not withhold parenting time only because support is unpaid. If parenting time is unsafe or there is a court order problem, ask a lawyer, advocate, or the court for help.
Changing or reviewing an order
If income, child care costs, health insurance, or parenting time changes, the support amount may need to be reviewed. It does not change by itself. Child support is part of a court order, so only a court can change the amount.
In full-service cases, either parent can usually ask Child Support for a review every 18 months. The 18 months are counted from when the order was entered, last reviewed, or last changed. North Dakota also lists denial reasons, including when there are 12 months or less left on the current support order or when a court action is already in progress to establish or change primary residential responsibility.
If the order is less than 18 months old and no exception applies, the state points parents to court modification forms or a private attorney. Court forms can be hard to use, so consider legal aid or limited-scope legal help if you can.
North Dakota law also covers support after age 18 in some high school situations. The state law is in Chapter 14-09. Ask Child Support or a lawyer before assuming support ends on a birthday.
Tribal, out-of-state, and hard-to-locate cases
Some cases are more complex because one parent lives in another state, another country, or on tribal land. North Dakota has other jurisdiction cases when another place may need to help establish parentage, set an order, change an order, or enforce support.
North Dakota says more than 60 tribes nationwide operate child support programs. In North Dakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Three Affiliated Tribes provide full services. If your case involves tribal land or a tribal child support program, ask about tribal child support before assuming the state-only path applies.
Out-of-state and tribal cases can move more slowly because another agency, court, or law may be involved. Keep your address current, return forms quickly, and send updated employer or location information when you get it.
Papers and information to gather
Gather what you can before you apply or call. You do not need every paper to ask for help. Use ASMOM’s documents checklist if you are applying for several programs at once.
| Information | Why it helps | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Child’s birth certificate | Shows the child’s legal name, date of birth, and parentage details. | If a parent is missing from the record, ask about paternity steps. |
| Other parent’s details | Helps with locate, service, income checks, and enforcement. | Include old addresses, employers, phone numbers, relatives, vehicles, and Social Security number if known. |
| Court papers | Divorce, custody, paternity, protection, and support orders can affect the case. | Bring the full order and any later changes, not only the first page. |
| Income and cost proof | Pay, self-employment, insurance, child care, and medical costs may matter. | Save pay stubs, tax forms, child care bills, insurance proof, and medical support papers. |
| Safety concerns | Threats, stalking, or abuse can change how you plan. | Talk with an advocate before sharing a safe address or filing papers that may be seen by the other parent. |
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
If a request is denied or your case feels stuck, ask what is missing, what rule applies, and what written notice you should receive. Keep copies of everything you send. Write down the date and time of every call.
If the other parent cannot be found, send any new information to Child Support. Even small details can help: a new job, a vehicle, a license plate, a social media name, a relative, a mailing address, or a city where the parent may live.
If you also have benefit problems, ASMOM’s benefits problem guide can help you organize notices, deadlines, and appeal questions. If money is short while you wait, use emergency help and apply for public benefits too.
If safety, custody, parenting time, or paternity is part of the problem, use ASMOM’s family safety guide and contact a qualified local professional.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for perfect paperwork. Apply with what you have and update the case later.
- Using old calculators. Use the current official calculator and guidelines.
- Signing paternity papers too fast. A voluntary acknowledgment is a legal document.
- Relying on cash payments. Use the official payment system or ask how to report direct payments.
- Mixing support with parenting time. Support and parenting time are separate issues.
- Ignoring safety concerns. If there are threats, talk with an advocate before filing or sharing contact information.
Phone scripts
Calling Child Support to start
“Hi, I want to apply for full child support services. I do not have an order yet. Can you tell me how to apply, what documents to send first, and how to protect my address if I have safety concerns?”
Calling about missing payments
“Hi, I receive support in case number ____. I have not received payments since ____. Can you tell me what enforcement steps are active, what information you need from me, and when I should follow up?”
Calling about a review
“Hi, my income, child care costs, health insurance, or parenting schedule changed. Am I eligible to request a review of my child support order? If not, what court option should I ask about?”
Calling legal aid
“Hi, I need help with a North Dakota child support, paternity, or parenting-time issue. There may also be safety concerns. Can you screen me for help or refer me to the right place?”
Resumen en español
Si necesita manutención infantil en North Dakota, empiece con North Dakota Child Support. El programa puede ayudar con paternidad, una orden de manutención, pagos, cumplimiento y revisión de una orden.
No use una tabla vieja para calcular el pago. Use la calculadora oficial del estado y confirme los detalles con Child Support, la corte, ayuda legal o un abogado. Si hay violencia, amenazas o miedo, hable primero con una defensora antes de compartir su dirección o empezar un caso.
Si necesita comida, renta, servicios públicos, cuidado infantil o seguro médico mientras espera, llame al 211 y solicite otros beneficios de North Dakota HHS.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if the other parent is not on the birth certificate?
Yes. Ask North Dakota Child Support about paternity services. Legal parentage may need to be established before a child support order can be entered.
How does North Dakota calculate child support?
North Dakota uses its child support guidelines, worksheets, and calculator. The paying parent’s income and other facts can matter, including medical support, child care, parenting time, and other family obligations.
What if I do not know where the other parent lives?
Apply anyway. Give Child Support any information you have, even if it is old. Parent location can use state and federal resources, but the agency needs details from you.
Can Child Support help if the other parent lives elsewhere?
Often, yes. North Dakota can work with other states, countries, or tribal jurisdictions, but the process may be slower because another agency or court may be involved.
Can I change my child support order?
You may be able to request a review. Full-service cases can usually ask every 18 months, but some requests are denied and some situations require a court motion.
Does child support decide custody or parenting time?
No. North Dakota Child Support says child support and parenting time are separate issues. For parenting time or custody problems, contact a lawyer, legal aid, an advocate, or the court.
When does support end in North Dakota?
Support may continue after age 18 if the child is still enrolled in and attending high school and lives with the person owed support. Ask Child Support or a lawyer before assuming payments end.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified June 17, 2026, next review September 17, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.