Child Support Services is a nationwide program established by Congress in 1975 to ensure that both parents support their children to the extent of their ability. In Catawba county the program is administered by Social Services. The federal legislation mandating the Child Support Program is Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. Sometimes, the program is called the IV-D (4-D) program.

A change in the law, generated by legislation, takes the enforcement duties found at G.S.chapter 50-13.9 away from the Clerks of Superior Court. Effective January 1, 2007 the Clerks of Superior Court throughout the State of North Carolina will no longer have the duty or obligation to provide enforcement for child support cases. This reduces the child's caretaker to three choices in the enforcement of child support: 1) to act pro se; 2)to hire counsel; or 3) to contract with child support enforcement.

WHERE DO I GO?

Catawba County Child Support Enforcement is located at 3030 11th Avenue Drive S.E. Hickory, North Carolina 28602. (This is behind Catawba Valley Medical Center off Fairgrove Church Road.) The mailing address is Post Office Box 669, Newton, North Carolina 28658.The phone number is (828) 695-4405.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES?

Services can be provided to any North Carolina parent or custodian regardless of income level. Individuals receiving Work First Family Assistance and Medicaid are automatically referred to the local child support enforcement agency. Persons receiving public assistance are required to cooperate with child support enforcement as a condition of their eligibility for assistance. Persons not receiving public assistance may apply for and receive child support services upon the payment of a $10.00 or $25.00 application fee, based on income guidelines from the Federal Register. This includes aunts, uncles, grandparents, court-appointed guardians, or others who are caring for a child.