Child Support Enforcement
The Path to an Administrative Support Order
What Is an Administrative Support Order?
An administrative support order is a legally
enforceable child support order issued by the Florida
Department of Revenue.
Agencies Involved in the Administrative Support
Procedure
The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) is the
designated Florida agency responsible for the child
support enforcement program. The establishment of
child support administratively is one process used by
DOR when there are no disputed facts and paternity
is not an issue. If the noncustodial parent believes
there are disputed facts, he/she may request a formal
hearing, and the case will be assigned to the Division
of Administrative Hearings (DOAH).
What are the benefits of the administrative
procedure?
Using the administrative support procedure may
reduce the time it takes to obtain a support order.
The custodial parent may receive support payments
more quickly than if the case went through the
usual court process. The administrative procedure
eliminates court appearances that are a normal part
of the judicial hearing procedure. By avoiding the
lost work time and income that is often caused by
having to attend the required court hearings, the
burden on both parents may be reduced.
The administrative support procedure uses the same Each parent has 20 days to review the notice and
child support guidelines established by law and used is required to return their completed Financial
by courts to set the amount of support paid by a Affidavit and Parent Information forms to DOR.
noncustodial parent.
DOR calculates the amount of monthly support a
noncustodial parent must pay based on Florida’s
When can it be used? child support guidelines and the financial
information of both parents.
The administrative support procedure may be used
when:
Proposed Administrative Support Order
• Paternity has been established.
DOR sends both parents a proposed order that
• There is no existing child support order.
details the monthly support amount and health care
coverage needs for the child. Each parent receives
How does the administrative support completed copies of the child support guideline
procedure start? worksheet and financial affidavits (if received), which
are used to establish the support amount.
DOR notifies both parents when the procedure
begins and the noncustodial parent must be served. Noncustodial parents are encouraged to call or visit
Both parents are given: the DOR office with any questions. The noncustodial
parent may:
• A Notice of Proceeding
to Establish an 1. Request an informal discussion about the
Administrative proposed support order with DOR.
Support Order. 2. Agree to the proposed order.
• A blank copy of 3. Request an administrative hearing by sending
the Financial a written request to DOR within 20 days of the
Affidavit form. mailing of the proposed order.
• A blank copy A final support order can be issued even if no
of the Parent response to the proposed order is received.
Information
form.
• Other helpful
information
about the
procedure.
Final Administrative Support Order Enforcement of an Administrative Support Order
A final administrative support order can be issued
when one of the following occurs:
The administrative support order has the same
full force and effect as a judicial order and can be Child Support Enforcement
enforced in the same ways including:
1. The noncustodial parent agrees in writing to

The Path to an
the administrative support order. • income deduction
2. The noncustodial parent does not file a request • credit reporting
for an administrative hearing within 20 days. • driver license suspension.
3. An administrative hearing is held and the
Division of Administrative Hearings issues an Authority Administrative
Support
administrative support order.
Section 409.2563, Florida Statutes, authorizes the
DOR sends a copy of the final administrative support Department of Revenue to establish administrative
order to both parents by regular mail and sends a
Order
support orders.
certified copy to be filed with the Clerk of Court. An
income deduction order is issued with the final order
and income withholding is started. For Information
Once a final order is issued, the noncustodial parent For more information on the Administrative Support
may file an appeal from the final support order in an Order procedure, contact the Florida Department
appropriate District Court of Appeal. of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement, Customer
Service Unit at
How long does an administrative support order 1-800-622-KIDS
stay in effect? (1-800-622-5437)
A Final Administrative Support Order remains in For general information on the Child Support
effect until: Enforcement Program, visit our web site at:
• It is modified or changed by DOR. www.myflorida.com/dor/childsupport
• It is vacated or reversed on appeal.
• It is superseded or replaced by a later judicial
support order.
The information in this brochure is based on
A case must meet the same legal requirements and Florida and federal laws. For specific legal
statutory criteria as when a judicial support order advice, you should consult an attorney.
is modified. Even if DOR closes a case, the order
remains in effect and can be enforced. To modify an
administrative support order, DOR must follow the What parents and
same procedures used in establishing the order.
caregivers need to know.
CS-120
R. 08/05