Terminate "Opt Out" of Massachusetts Child Support Services

We may not be able to close your case if:

• You receive public assistance from the TAFDC program for the children in your case

• You receive Medicaid/MassHealth assistance and are required to cooperate with DOR in getting child support

• The other parent owes past-due support to the Commonwealth; or

• Your case was opened because the other parent applied for services.

If there is an existing court order requiring the other parent to pay child support, be aware of the following before you sign and return the form asking DOR to stop providing full child support services:

• The other parent is required to continue to pay child support as long as there is a court order requiring him or her to do so. Stopping child support services doesn't have any effect on an existing court order. Only the court can make a change to the order.

• If the other parent pays child support by income withholding, we will continue to collect those payments and send them to you. That is the only service we will provide.

If you terminate full child support services, we will not:

• Monitor payments

• Maintain records of how much past-due support the other parent owes

• Keep track of the other parent's employer or ensure that any new employer withholds child support

• Ensure that an employer or health insurance provider complies with any orders requiring health care coverage or

• Take any action to enforce compliance with your child or medical support order such as:

  • increasing the amount of income withholding by 25%

  • intercepting federal and state income tax refunds

  • seizing bank accounts

  • suspending driver's and professional licenses and motor vehicle registrations

  • intercepting insurance claims or

  • referring to the U.S. Department of State to deny issuance or renewal of a passport.

If you terminate full child support services, we will

• Release all liens we have recorded against the other parent's property to enforce collection and

• Request reinstatement of any licenses suspended due to failure to pay child support.

If you believe that the child support enforcement activities place you or your children at risk of harm, call our Customer Service Center at (800) 332-2733 or (617) 660-1234 (for local callers) to discuss other options that may be available to you.

If you request that we terminate full child support services to you and we then close your case, you may reapply for services at anytime by submitting a new Application for Services.