INCOME WITHHOLDING ORDER

The federal Office of Child Support Services has released an updated Income Withholding Order with an expiration date of August 31, 2026. States have one year to implement the revised order. Please continue using the current Income Withholding Order with the outdated expiration. For additional information, please visit the Revised IWO form and Instructions page.  Employers may be served an IWO by a California local child support agency, by another state’s child support agency, or by a private party.

From a Child Support Agency

Cases managed by child support agencies in any state are called “4-D” cases, referring to Title IV-D of the Federal Social Security Act, the law that created Child Support Services agencies. These IWOs are issued by the child support agency and do not require a judge’s signature.

Private Cases

If the case is not being managed through a child support agency, the family court will issue the IWO. This is called a “Non-4-D” case. In this circumstance, you the employer will be served with the documentation by a private party, either the person who will be receiving the support or that person’s representative.

Your Role

The employer’s responsibility is the same in both types of cases except on one point. Since Non-4-D orders do not originate within the child support system, the California State Disbursement Unit, which processes all child support payments, needs additional information to assure the payment is processed accurately. The IWO form is on the Employer Forms page. View the IWO Factsheet to learn more:

• IWO Factsheet (English)
• IWO Factsheet (Spanish)

  See the Employer Handbook for more information on income withholding.