Child Support

This page offers information about the role of our office, the Domestic Relations Depository, in dealing with court-ordered payments in family matters. If you’re concerned with this issue, we hope you’ll find information here that will be helpful to you. But if we can be of further assistance, please call us at (904) 255-2000.

The Domestic Relations Depository is the official record keeper for the Florida State Disbursement Unit (FLSDU). When a court order requires that child support, Arrearage or alimony payments should be made through the FLSDU, the Depository will maintain the records for the case.

For your convenience, the Clerk of Court’s Family Law Department is happy to provide customer service regarding account information in person at our office and over the telephone. However, please understand that the Clerk’s Office is prevented by law from offering legal advice. Those needing legal assistance should consider consulting with an attorney.

Child-Support Information

The Department of Revenue: Child Support Services (DOR) works alongside the Florida State Disbursement Unit to act as the central depository for receiving, recording, reporting, monitoring and disbursing alimony and child-support payments. This is in accordance with Florida Statutes, Section 61.181.

For some historical background, the Florida Legislature passed Chapter 98-397, Laws of Florida, (CS\CS\HB 271). Under this law, the Department of Revenue contracts with the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers (FCCC) and each depository to operate a State Disbursement Unit (SDU). With the passage of Florida Statutes, section 61.1824, the Florida State Disbursement Unit was created to become a centralized location for the collection and disbursement of child-support payments. This gives the FLSDU the responsibility of collecting and disbursing payments for Duval County.

The Department of Revenue helps custodial parents with the location of non-custodial parents. This is the case whether the custodial parents are married, separated, divorced or unmarried. The CSE division also assists with the establishment of paternity and/or a child-support order. In addition, it helps with the enforcement of child-support obligations, even if the non-custodial parent lives outside Florida.

To contact the Department of Revenue you can go online at https://floridarevenue.com/childsupport

Voice Response Unit

When you’re seeking information, you may find it helpful to use FLSDU convenient Voice Response Unit (VRU). This service can provide basic payment information. The VRU also makes it easy to speak with a customer-service representative, if needed. The telephone number is (877) 769-0251 (toll free), or in the Tallahassee area, (850) 201-0140.

When you call, the system will ask you for your Social Security number and case number. So, to use the system, you will need to make sure the Clerk of the Circuit Court has your correct Social Security number. The case number must be entered as a nine-digit number.

By calling the FLSDU number, you can learn the monetary amount and the date of a disbursement. If the Social Security number of the non-majority parent is used, information about the balance due is available as well.

Procedures for Making Payments to the FLSDU

All child-support and alimony payments for Duval County are to be sent to the Florida State Disbursement Unit. The FLSDU will receive your payment and post it to the appropriate account. To be processed the same day they are received, all payments must have the proper identification.

Proper Identification means:

• The full name of the person who has to make the payment
• The Social Security number of the person making the payment
• The name of the county in which your case is recorded
• The support case number
• The full name of the person who is to receive the payment

It’s very important to remember to include all this information on the front of your check or money order. Without it, your payment cannot be processed!

Payments are to be mailed to:

If your support is being paid through an income-deduction order at work, your employer will be notified to send the payments to the FLSDU, but please feel free to share this notice with them.

Please be sure to keep the Clerk's Office informed of your current mailing address, because checks are not forwarded. Also, if your case is handled by the Department of Revenue Child Support Services, provide them with your current mailing address. You can do this by calling toll-free (850) 488-5437.

You can also go online at: https://floridarevenue.com/childsupport

You can update your address online at the FLSDU website for both the clerk's office and child support services: https://FL.Smartchildsupport.com/

Payments

Please keep in mind that the Domestic Relations Depository will accept only first-time payments and Purge Payments directly. These payments can be made in Room 1053 in the East Lobby of the Duval County Courthouse. The Domestic Relations Depository service windows are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (except legal holidays). Money orders and certified checks may be made payable to the Domestic Relations Depository.

When making a first-time payment, a signed copy of the court order, if it has not been filed in the case yet, directing payments is required along with the following information:

• The name of each child
• The date of birth of each child
• The Social Security number of each child
• The address of each child
• The name and address of the custodial person and non-custodial person

Please contact the Clerk’s Office’s Official Records and Research Department at (904) 255-2025 to get a copy of the court order.

After your first-time payment, all future payments, unless otherwise instructed, should be made to the FLSDU at the following address:

Other Payment Options

For an additional fee, you may also make payments online at www.paykidz.com, www.myfloridaremit.com, www.expertpay.com, www.FL.Smartchildsupport.com, or at any MoneyGram, Western Union or Amscot location.

Manner of Payment

First-time payments may be made in the form of cash, cashier’s check, money order or certified check. Please note that any form of payment other than cash will have a standard hold of two business days to make sure all funds are properly processed. Again, after the first-time payment, subsequent payments must be paid directly to FLSDU at the address listed above.

Purge Payments may be made by cash, cashier’s check, money order or certified check, but personal checks are NOT accepted.

Account Information

The Florida State Disbursement Unit processes most child-support payments and offers a telephone customer-service system. This system provides account information, including when the most recent payment check was issued to the recipient. Known as The Voice Response Unit, the system may be reached toll-free at (877) 769-0251. To access account information, you will need your Social Security number and case number. If you do not have your case number, you can obtain it by contacting the Clerk’s Office by or searching CORE, the Clerk’s Office’s Online Court Records Search Tool.

In addition, account information, including the details of the last five payments made, is available at PayKidz and www.FL.Smartchildsupport.com.

Fees

Current fees for Clerk services can be found by visting the Clerk's fee schedule page at the link below.

Fee Schedule Page

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Office Information

Domestic Relations Department

Office Hours
Monday through Friday (excluding holidays): 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Mailing Address
Duval County Clerk of Courts Attn: DOMESTIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
501 West Adams Street, Room 1053
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Phone
(904) 255-2000