To perform a Florida child support case lookup, use two official tools: the Department of Revenue’s Child Support eServices portal at childsupport.floridarevenue.com for payment history and case management, and your county Clerk of the Circuit Court’s website for court filings, motions, and orders. Both are free to search. Which one you need depends on whether you’re looking for money records or paper records.
What eServices Shows You
The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) runs eServices as the central hub for cases managed by the state’s Child Support Program. Once you’re registered and signed in, you can view case details, see individual payment records, check upcoming obligations, and update information like your address or employer.
If you’re the custodial parent and the other parent has been ordered to pay, eServices shows every payment processed through the Florida State Disbursement Unit. That payment history is usually the most useful thing the portal provides, particularly when you need documentation for court or to sort out a dispute about missed payments.
Registration is three steps: click Register on the eServices homepage, enter your identifying information, and create a username. The DOR emails a link to finish setup. You need an open, active case with the Florida Child Support Program to see case data, though you can also start a new application through the same portal.1Florida Department of Revenue. Florida Child Support eServices A Social Security number is not required to receive services; if you don’t have one, you can request a paper application from the DOR.2Florida Department of Revenue. Sign Up for Child Support Services
Not sure whether you have an open case at all? Logging in and checking is the quickest way to find out.
What the County Clerk Portal Shows You
eServices handles payments and case management. The actual court filings live somewhere else: with your county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court. Each of Florida’s 67 counties runs a public records portal where you can look up child support case files, read motions and orders, and check hearing dates. The Clerk is also the official record keeper at the county level for payments ordered through the State Disbursement Unit.3My Orange Clerk. Child Support
To search, you typically enter a case number or the names of the parties. Viewing case summaries and docket entries is usually free. Downloading documents or requesting certified copies costs a per-page fee that varies by county.4Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, Palm Beach County. Child Support How much you can see online varies too. Some counties post full document images. Others only show docket entries with brief descriptions. If the online portal doesn’t have what you need, you can request records in person or by mail from the Clerk’s office in the county where the case was filed.
Information to Have Before You Search
Having the right details in front of you before you start makes the difference between a two-minute lookup and a frustrating afternoon.
- Case number. This is the fastest way to pull up records on either the Clerk’s portal or eServices. It’s on any court order or official correspondence about your case. Florida case numbers follow a specific format that varies by court type and county, so type the number exactly as it appears on your documents.5Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Case Number Format
- Party names. If you don’t have the case number, most portals let you search by the names of the parents or parties. Use the exact spelling from official documents. One letter off can return no results.
- Date of birth. Some systems ask for this to narrow results when a common name produces multiple matches.
If name searches aren’t working and you can’t find your case number anywhere, call the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the case was filed. They can look it up and give you the number over the phone.
Reading the Payment History
All Florida child support payments flow through the Florida State Disbursement Unit (SDU), which records and distributes them. The payment history in eServices reflects SDU records. If a payment was made outside the SDU, it may not appear in the system at all. That’s a common source of disputes when a parent believes they paid but the record shows nothing.
Timing also matters when you’re reading the history. Payments made after 8:45 PM Eastern count as next-day transactions, and processing takes a few days depending on the payment method used.6Florida Department of Revenue. Make Child Support Payments A payment that looks late in the portal may simply still be in transit. Keep your own receipts and confirmation numbers so you can reconcile any gaps quickly.
What the Record Tells You About Enforcement Status
If you’re checking a case because payments have fallen behind, the record may show enforcement activity, and it helps to know what triggers each step.
Income deduction is the default. Florida law requires the court to enter an income deduction order whenever it establishes, enforces, or modifies a child support obligation, directing the paying parent’s employer to withhold support from wages. It isn’t reserved for people who’ve fallen behind.7The Florida Legislature. Florida Statutes 61.1301 – Income Deduction Orders
Once payments fall 15 days behind, the DOR (for Title IV-D cases) or the Clerk of the Court (for non-IV-D cases) can begin the process to suspend the paying parent’s driver’s license and motor vehicle registration. A notice of delinquency and intent to suspend goes out by mail. Florida can also suspend professional and recreational licenses. Reinstatement generally requires paying the overdue amount or entering a written payment agreement with the DOR.8Florida Senate. Florida Code 61.13016 – Suspension of Driver Licenses and Motor Vehicle Registrations
When past-due support exceeds $2,500, the state can certify the case to the federal Office of Child Support Services, which forwards the name to the State Department for passport denial. The federal government does not automatically remove someone from the denial list even if the balance later drops below $2,500.9Administration for Children & Families. Passport Denial Program 101
Contempt is the sharper tool. If the court finds a parent has the present ability to pay a specific amount and refuses, it can jail that parent until the ordered payment is made. If the parent doesn’t appear for the contempt hearing, the court can issue an arrest warrant.10Florida Department of Revenue. Court Actions
When to Call Instead of Searching
Online lookups don’t always deliver. Records may be sealed, the case may not have posted yet, or the portal may be down. Florida’s Child Support Program has several ways to reach a person:11Florida Department of Revenue. Contact the Child Support Program
- Phone: 850-488-KIDS (5437), Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern. For cases in Miami-Dade County, call 305-530-2600.
- Live chat on the DOR website, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern.
- Online contact form through eServices, any time. Responses typically arrive within one to three business days.
- Fax: 850-921-0792.
Be cautious with third-party sites that claim to aggregate child support records across jurisdictions. They often charge for information available for free through official channels, and their data may be outdated or wrong. For anything you’ll rely on in court or use for financial decisions, stick with the DOR portal and your county Clerk’s site.