Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
In South Dakota, child support is handled through the South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support. DCS can help locate a parent, establish parentage, set up a child support order, collect payments, enforce an order, and help start a request to change an order. The court decides the final order.
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice. For case advice, talk with a lawyer, a legal aid program, the court clerk, or DCS.
If you need help today
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If the other parent is threatening you, stalking you, or using child support papers to scare you, do not handle it alone. You can ask DCS about safety concerns on your case, contact protection order forms, or contact a local domestic violence program through the statewide network.
For confidential domestic violence support, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. The South Dakota DCS request form also includes a safety section so you can tell DCS if you have a protection order, no-contact order, or fear about how the other parent may react.
If child support is not coming and you also need food, rent, child care, or medical help, start with South Dakota emergency help, South Dakota SNAP, or South Dakota TANF while the child support case moves through the system.
Where to start
If you do not already have a child support case, start with the official parents page from South Dakota DCS. DCS says it works with parents and caregivers to establish paternity, set up orders, collect on existing orders, modify orders, and locate a parent.
You do not have an order
Ask DCS for services. DCS can help with parent location, parentage, and a support order. If parentage is not legally established, that may come first.
You have an order
Ask DCS about enforcement. You will need your court order, case number if you have one, and updated information about the other parent.
The amount is wrong now
Do not stop paying or ignore the order. Ask about a modification. In South Dakota, only the Circuit Court can change a child support obligation.
For a broader overview of the child support process, see ASMOM’s child support guide. If you need step-by-step filing help, also see how to file.
Quick reference for South Dakota
| Need | Best starting point | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Apply for services | Use the DCS request form and submit hard copies with attachments. | Incomplete forms can be returned and may slow the case. |
| Find an office | Use the official office list or call DCS at 605-773-3641. | County coverage decides which field office handles many cases. |
| Estimate support | Use the official calculator for a basic estimate. | The calculator is not a court order and does not fit every custody setup. |
| Check payments | Use Customer Connect or contact DCS. | Payments can be delayed by mail, holidays, employer timing, or holds. |
| Change an order | Start with the DCS modification page. | The current order stays in place until the court changes it. |
How to apply for child support services
DCS says the online request form is available, but hard copy requests and attachments must still be submitted. You can ask DCS to mail a hard copy, email DCS at DCS@state.sd.us, or call a DCS office.
The request form says DCS can help with location, parentage and order establishment, and enforcement of child support and medical support orders. It also says DCS cannot help with custody, parenting time, or other issues not directly related to child support.
The application is available to parents, alleged fathers, and people who have court-ordered legal custody or guardianship of the child. If you are not the parent, attach a copy of the court order that gives you legal custody or guardianship.
What to gather before you apply
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Full names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers if known | DCS uses this information to locate people and match records. |
| Birth certificates for each child | The form asks for a copy for each child listed. |
| Any paternity affidavit or DNA result | This helps DCS know whether parentage is already established. |
| Most recent court order or divorce decree | DCS needs to know what the court already ordered. |
| Employer, address, phone, and family contacts for the other parent | Even old information can help DCS locate a parent. |
| Safety concerns or protection orders | DCS asks about fear, threats, protection orders, and safe contact options. |
Tip: write unknown when needed
The DCS form tells applicants to answer as completely as possible and write unknown when they do not know the information. Do not guess at facts you are not sure about.
How South Dakota calculates child support
South Dakota child support obligations are based on state child support guideline laws. DCS explains that the basic support obligation looks at both parents’ combined monthly net incomes, the number of children, and each parent’s proportionate share. The court may also consider child care and health care coverage costs.
The official obligation page explains the basic worksheet, split custody, and shared parenting cross-credit. Shared parenting is not just an informal agreement. DCS describes it as a court order with a detailed shared parenting plan where the child lives at least 180 nights per calendar year in each parent’s home, and the court may decide whether a cross-credit is appropriate.
The calculator gives only a general idea. It is intended for combined monthly net income up to $30,000. It assumes the children primarily live with one parent, and it is not meant for joint physical care or split custody cases. If your case has unusual expenses, shared time, high income, travel costs, or safety issues, expect the final number to be different from a quick online estimate.
Parentage and paternity
If parents were not married, legal parentage may need to be established before support can be ordered. DCS says the father’s name on a South Dakota birth certificate does not, by itself, establish paternity. Parentage may be established by court order, genetic testing, a signed voluntary acknowledgment, or by marriage rules.
The DCS paternity page explains that both parents must sign a paternity affidavit under oath to voluntarily acknowledge paternity. Once signed, the law presumes the named father is the biological father, and DCS can move forward with child support without a separate legal proceeding to establish paternity.
DCS also says it does not provide free DNA testing without a case. If paternity has not been established, either parent may apply for DCS services to establish paternity and a child support order.
Payments, missed payments, and enforcement
Most child support payments are made through income withholding. When income withholding is not possible, the person who pays support may have other payment options. The official payment page says payments can be made online, in person, or by mail, and that some vendor methods may charge fees.
Parents and caregivers who receive child support can receive payments by direct deposit or Way2Go prepaid debit card. DCS says payments are generally disbursed within two business days after DCS receives and applies the payment, but mail delivery, holidays, weather, computer issues, and holds can cause delays.
If payments stop, report changes to DCS. Useful information can include the other parent’s new job, new address, new phone number, license information, or whether the parent moved to another state. DCS lists enforcement tools such as income withholding, IRS tax offset, passport restriction, court referral for nonpayment, lottery offset, and license restriction.
Do not trade support for parenting time
DCS says child support and parenting time are separate. A parent cannot withhold parenting time because support is unpaid, and a parent cannot withhold support because parenting time is being denied. Custody and parenting time issues go through Circuit Court, not DCS.
How to change a South Dakota child support order
A change to the amount is called a modification. DCS can help start the process, but the Circuit Court is the only entity that can modify a child support obligation. Either parent, or a person with legal custody such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or guardian, may file a petition to modify.
DCS says an order entered after July 1, 2022 may be modified if it was entered three years or more before the petition is submitted, or if there has been a substantial change in circumstances. Examples may include income changes, a job loss, daycare costs ending, or a child graduating from high school while other minor children remain on the order.
The modification page states that a $50 filing fee is required unless the petitioner is receiving certain assistance benefits under South Dakota law, such as TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, child care assistance, or energy assistance. A filing fee waiver request may also be included. Always check the current form and instructions before mailing anything.
| Problem | What to do | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| You lost income | Ask about a modification right away. | The old order continues until the court changes it. |
| The child now lives with the paying parent | Ask DCS or legal aid about modification. | Do not assume the order stopped by itself. |
| One child emancipated | Check whether the order must be modified. | Many orders are not per-child orders. |
| You fear address disclosure | Tell DCS and legal aid before filing. | DCS warns an address may be released during modification. |
Safety, custody, and legal help
Child support can affect safety when the other parent is abusive, controlling, or threatening. Tell DCS about safety concerns in writing when possible, and ask what information may be shared. If you need protection order information, the South Dakota Unified Judicial System has domestic violence forms and self-help information.
If you need legal help and cannot afford a lawyer, SD Law Help connects applicants with legal aid organizations that serve South Dakotans and members of local Tribal Nations. The site says the program usually contacts applicants by phone, email, or mail within two to five business days, and people with urgent deadlines should reach out to the nearest agency.
For parenting time and court forms, the South Dakota Unified Judicial System has a court self-help site. Custody, protection orders, divorce, parenting time, and child support can overlap, but they are not the same case task. Ask the court clerk, legal aid, or a lawyer which forms fit your situation.
Backup help while child support is pending
Child support can take time, especially if a parent must be located, served, or taken to court. While you wait, check other help paths that fit your household. These are not a replacement for child support, but they may help with urgent needs.
- South Dakota help – a broad state guide for single mothers.
- Housing assistance – rent, shelter, and housing resources.
- Child care help – help with child care costs while working or training.
- Health care help – Medicaid and health coverage starting points.
- South Dakota WIC – nutrition help for pregnant people, babies, and young children.
- Legal help – legal aid and court help paths.
- Domestic violence help – safety-focused help for abuse situations.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling DCS to start a case
Hello, I need to request child support services. Can you tell me which field office handles my county, what forms I need, and where to mail the hard copy request and attachments?
Calling about missing payments
Hello, I receive support in case number [case number]. Payments have stopped or changed. Can you check whether DCS received a payment, whether an income withholding order is active, and what information you need from me?
Calling about a modification
Hello, I need to ask about changing my child support order. My situation changed because [short reason]. Can you tell me which petition, financial statement, fee, and attachments I need?
Calling legal aid
Hello, I have a child support issue and I may also have custody or safety concerns. I need to know whether legal aid can review my options or help me understand the forms.
Resumen en espanol
En South Dakota, la Division of Child Support puede ayudar a ubicar a un padre, establecer paternidad, crear una orden, cobrar pagos, hacer cumplir una orden y empezar una solicitud para cambiarla. La corte decide la orden final.
Si hay amenazas, abuso, acoso o miedo, llame al 911 si hay peligro inmediato. Tambien puede pedir ayuda con una orden de proteccion, hablar con ayuda legal, o llamar a la Linea Nacional de Violencia Domestica al 1-800-799-7233.
Guarde copias de formularios, ordenes de la corte, pagos, mensajes importantes y cambios de direccion o trabajo. No deje de seguir una orden de la corte sin pedir ayuda primero.
Frequently asked questions
Can South Dakota DCS help me get custody or parenting time?
No. DCS says it does not represent either parent in custody or parenting time matters. Those issues are handled through Circuit Court.
Can I apply if I was never married to the other parent?
Yes. Marriage is not required to request child support services. If legal parentage has not been established, DCS may help establish parentage before support is ordered.
Does the calculator tell me the exact amount I will get?
No. The calculator gives a general estimate. The final amount can be different because the court can consider facts, deviations, child care, health care, custody setup, and other details.
What if the other parent lives in another state?
DCS can work with another state when needed. The case may take longer because the other state may have its own process and timelines.
Can I stop support if the child now lives with me?
Do not assume the order stopped. DCS says the paying parent should file for modification, and the order remains in effect until the court changes it.
What if applying for child support could make me unsafe?
Tell DCS about safety concerns, protection orders, and safe ways to contact you. Also contact legal aid or a domestic violence program before filing if you are worried about danger or address disclosure.
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 May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 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.