State Hearings

Do you feel the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) is not handling your case properly or your request for a modification is denied unjustly? Either party to a case may request a state hearing if you do not agree with an action or believe a mistake has been made.

The Bureau of State Hearings, under the jurisdiction of the State of Ohio Jobs and Family Services, determines if OCSS has taken the appropriate action on a child support case. Once your request for a state hearing has been received, the Bureau of State Hearings will determine if your issue can be heard. Not all issues can be appealed to the Bureau of State Hearings, and therefore must go to court.

The Bureau of State Hearings has no authority to change court orders.

Listed below are the allowable reasons for requesting a state hearing.

If you are the custodial or residential parent, guardian, or caretaker:

• An application for child support services has been denied, acted upon erroneously, or not acted upon with reasonable promptness.
• OCSS has failed to use appropriate establishment or enforcement techniques
• Child Support collections have not been distributed or disbursed correctly or questions the accuracy of the arrears owed to ODJFS at termination of cash benefits
• Child support payments, including payments owed to the CP due to agency error, are not being issued with reasonable promptness
• OCSS has failed to take action against an employer for failure to promptly forward payments withheld from the non-custodial parent’s (NCP) wages
• OCSS’ decision to close the child support case was in error
• OCSS’ decision to deny a modification request was in error

If you are the parent who is paying child support:

• Services for establishing paternity have been denied.
• OCSS has refused to review the parent's support order for modification. 
• OCSS' decision to deny a modification request was in error.

To find out more information on State Hearings, please visit the Bureau of State Hearings web site.

State hearings for Cuyahoga County are held on the Payne Ave. side of the Virgil E. Brown building (Ohio Department of Job & Family Services):
1641 Payne Avenue, Room 370
Cleveland, OH 44114

Please arrive early to ensure you have adequate time to get to Room 370 for your state hearing. Late arrivals will not be heard.