Blog Post  Child Support News You Can Use - Fall 2025

Supporting You Every Step Of The Way

Regular child support is an important part of ensuring children have financial stability and Child Support Services (CSS) is here to support both parents every step of the way. We have many ways to help ensure your children receive the support they need, and we can provide all these services to you for free.

How can CSS support me?

• CSS can help you navigate the court process by filing an action in court to establish parentage and arrange for genetic marker testing, or filing for support if parentage has already been established.
• CSS can gather information needed from both parents to see if the order should change. See the section on Modification below for more information.
• CSS can track your child support payments and balances.
• CSS can work with a parent's employer to withhold child support from paychecks so we can quickly send it to the other parent.
• CSS can provide all these services and more at no cost to you. 

What can I do to help CSS support me?

• Let us know if your contact information changes so we can keep you up to date about your case.  Email is a quick and safe way for CSS to keep you up to date so make sure we have your email.
• Let us know if the contact information for the other parent changes.
• Reach out to us with any questions. We can't help you if we don't know what you need.
• Let us know if you can't pay your support order so we can work together to find possible solutions that could help.

Do you know someone who could use CSS services?

If you know someone who could benefit from child support services but who is not already receiving them, we want to help. Even if they don't have an open child support case, parents and caretakers can contact us with general questions or for more information about our services.

Going to court on your own? 

If you go to court on your own, please make sure to send CSS a signed copy of any agreement and the order issued by the judge. That way we can update our system so we collect the correct amount due under the new order.

New Login Process For The Case Manager As Of June!

CSS customers must have MyMassGov accounts to log in to the CSS Online Case Manager.  MyMassGov is the Commonwealth's gateway for those who access services from state agencies.  If you do not already have a MyMassGov account, you need to create one, then link your CSS account.  If you already have a MyMassGov account, all you need to do is log in to your MyMassGov account and link your CSS account. You can find more information and instructions on our website www.mass.gov/css.

The Many Ways Available To Pay Your Support

Do you have questions about when your child support order ends?  

Most child support orders have an end date based on when the youngest child turns 18, 21, or 23. Children are eligible for support until age 21 if living with and dependent on a parent, but support can go up to age 23 in certain circumstances. If you believe your child is no longer eligible for support, contact CSS, and we can let you know the next steps in your case.

MODIFICATION

Whether you pay support or receive support, you can ask the court to change the order to make it higher or lower or change an order for health care coverage. Only the court can change your order, but you can ask CSS to review your case. If we think a change to your order is appropriate, we can file a complaint for modification and then schedule a case conference for the court to consider modifying the order. To start the process, call us, e-mail us, or visit the CSS Virtual Counter

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