State Hearings

If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your complaint you may request a State Hearing to address the issue(s) you raised in your complaint. You must first complete the Complaint Resolution Process before requesting a State Hearing. If your request for State Hearing is granted, you will have your child support case reviewed by an Administrative Law Judge. The Ombudperson can help you prepare for your State Hearing.

The following types of complaints can be heard at a State Hearing:

• Your application for child support services has been denied or has not been acted upon within the required time frame.
• Your case has been acted upon and you believe the Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) acted illegally.
• Child support payments were not given to you or you received the wrong amount. Or, you don't agree with the past-due amount.
• The child support agency closed your child support case.

You must request a State Hearing within 90 days after you receive the LCSA's response to your complaint, or within 90 days after you filed your complaint if the LCSA did not respond to your complaint. The State Hearing will be held within 45 days after the request for a hearing is received by the State Hearing Office.

If needed, translation services and reasonable disability assistance are available to you free of charge.

Some issues cannot be heard at a State Hearing:

• court-ordered amounts of child support
• paternity
• child custody or visitation
• spousal support
• contempt matters
• civil rights issues.

If you have questions about the State Hearing Process you can contact our Ombudsperson Program at (707) 565-4242.

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