Child Support Enforcement

Special Announcement From the DOJ Director: DA Child Support Transitions - Columbia County DA Office

Long-time child support employee Victoria Walton is retiring from Columbia County on August 1. With her retirement, the district attorney has decided to transfer child support services to DOJ.

While no employees are transferring to DOJ, the Columbia County DA child support cases will transfer to the Division of Child Support on August 1.

The Columbia County Child Support Enforcement Office provides services to ensure children and families receive appropriate financial and other support. 

Our office promotes family health and safety for the well-being of children through a variety of services and programs. 

These services can be provided based upon an agreement of the parties or may be ordered by a judge after a careful review of the facts in a family law case. Trained staff can help you with the following:

• apply for Child Support Services
• expedite the processing of your case
• make a payment.

The Columbia County Child Support Enforcement Office represents the interests of the State of Oregon. We do not represent either party. For legal advice please contact your private attorney.

Our office cannot guarantee that you will receive regular and timely support payments; however, we will make all reasonable efforts to assist you.

When you apply for services, the non-custodial parent will be advised to stop making payments directly to you, and instead, make payments through the Child Support Program.

Each case is different, with its own set of facts and circumstances. Most of our processes are handled administratively (outside of court) and take a minimum of 90 days. If hearings are requested, a party is difficult to serve, or if paternity testing is requested, this can take up to six months or longer.

For a full list of available services, please visit the Oregon Department of Justice Child Support page.

Services Not Provided

• legal advice
• enforcement or collection on spousal-only order.  A party can apply for spousal support only enforcement; however, it’s only enforceable by income withholding, and CSP can not guarantee payment will be received by the due date in the court order.  Spousal support only cases are worked from a centralized unit in Salem. 
• as long as a party has a judgment with a specified dollar amount for unreimbursed medical costs, CSP can add that amount to the case balance and enforce it.  CSP does not currently have a process available to establish judgments for unreimbursed medical costs.  As long as a party has a judgment with a specified dollar amount for unreimbursed medical costs, CSP can add that amount to the case balance and enforce it.  CSP does not currently have a process available to establish judgments for unreimbursed medical costs.
• mediation, parenting time, and custody assistance
• CSP does not provide child support calculations for judicial processes.