Who receives my child support payments?

In general, your child support payments go to the child’s other parent or caregiver who has physical custody of the child, OR to the state of California if your child receives public benefits or if Child Protective Services (CPS) is involved.

Can you pay child support directly to the legal guardian of a child?

You can pay child support directly to the guardian in an informal capacity. If the guardian or the local child support agency (LCSA) has requested child support in court you will have to pay the state disbursement unit and they will provide support to your child’s guardian.[2540]

  1. 2540

    Cal. State Dep. of Soc. Serv., California State Disbursement Unit, https://www.childsup.ca.gov/payments/statedisbursementunit(sdu).aspx ↑