child Support Enforcement
All child support for Ohio’s children goes through a CSEA. Any payments made directly from one parent to another are considered gifts. Such payments do not count as child support. Sandusky County CSEA can accept cash, check, money orders, and credit card payments.
Helpful Links
Overview of Services
The first step in the Child Support process is to establish paternity – to legally determine the child’s father. Paternity can be established by administrative or court process.
The CSEA locates absent parents to establish paternity or enforce child support orders. The CSEA has many sources of information such as:
- Vehicle registration
- BMV
- New hire data
- Ohio & Federal Parent Locator
- FIDM (Financial Information Data Match)
Orders may be issued in court by a judge or magistrate or at the CSEA by an administrative hearing officer. The amount of the order is set based on statewide guidelines.
The court has the final authority to determine the amount of child support awarded. Please contact your local CSEA or see an attorney in your area for more detailed information.
Health insurance coverage for the child including a Cash Medical Support Order must be included in every order.
The CSEA can enforce an order for support in several ways.
- Income withholding
- Withholding of workers’ compensation, unemployment, pension funds, or other sources of income
- State and Federal income tax refunds
- The noncustodial parent may have no income or assets. The CSEA can get an order requiring the parent to seek work.
- Freeze and Seize of Bank Accounts
- Suspension of licenses (Professional, Driver’s and/or Recreational)
For Employers: Use the OCDEA Calculator.
The CSEA can review child support orders if either parent asks. Usually the most recent order must be at least three (3) years old before a review is done, but it can be done earlier in certain situations.
All child support for Ohio’s children goes through a CSEA. Any payments made directly from one parent to another are considered gifts. Such payments do not count as child support. Sandusky County CSEA can accept cash, check, money orders, and credit card payments.
Information about online payments and employer information can be found on the Collection Information page.
Contact your CSEA worker
If you have any problems or need more information about Child Support.
Call Center Closed Tuesday & Thursday
419-334-2909
Toll Free: 1-800-883-8283 (within the State of Ohio only) Drive Thru Open 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Mon – Fri Can be used as a drop off location for all departments for the agency
Fax: 419-355-5344
Email: Sandusky-County-Child-Support@jfs.ohio.gov
Ohio Child Support Customer Service Web Portal
The Ohio Child Support Customer Service Portal is Ohio’s web-based application which provides our customers easy on-demand access to their case information, currently on file with the child support agency.