Application - A written document provided by the Local Child Support Agency in which an individual requests support services and which is signed by the individual.

Arrears or Arrearages - The unpaid child support payment for past periods owed by a parent who is obligated to pay by court order. The arrears or arrearages include interest and are adjusted for the amount of any partial satisfaction of the judgment.

Case - A non-custodial parent, whether mother or father, or alleged father, a custodial party, and a dependent child or children. The custodial party may be one of the child's parents or other relative or caretaker including foster care, if both parents are absent and liable or potentially liable for the support of the children, each parent is considered a separate case.

Case Record - A file containing all information and documents pertaining to the case, including all relevant facts, dates, and action taken related to the case, and all contacts made and the results of those contacts. The case record is the property of the LCSA.

Child Support - Amounts required to be paid under a judgment, decree or order, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, for the support and maintenance of a child or children, which provides for monetary support, health care, arrears, and may include interest in delinquent child support obligations.

Child Support Order - Any court order for the payment of a set or determinable amount of support of a child by a parent, or court order requiring a parent to make payment of arrears. Child support order includes any court order for spousal support or for medical support to the extent these obligations are to be enforced by a single state agency for child support under Title IV-D.

County - One of the fifty-eight political subdivisions in the State of California.

Custodial Party - The person having primary custody and control of the children and receiving or has received services under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

Custody Determination - A judgment, decree, or order of a court providing for the custody of a child.

Disbursed or Disbursement - The paying out of a collection.

Distributed or Distribution - The application of monies to specific accounts to determine the appropriate disbursement of monies.

Enforcement - The employment of legal remedies to obtain payment of a child, family, medical, or spousal support obligation.

Establishment - The process of legally determining paternity and/or obtaining a court or administrative order to put a child support obligation in place.

Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) - A computerized national location network operated by the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). FPLS obtains address and employer information, as well as date on child support cases in every state, compares them and returns matches to the appropriate states. This helps state and local child support agencies locate non-custodial parents and putative fathers for the purposes of establishing custody and visitation rights, establishing and enforcing child support obligations, investigating parental kidnapping, and processing adoption or foster care cases. The expanded FPLS includes the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH) and the Federal Case Registry (FCR).

Franchise Tax Board - The state government agency in California responsible for collecting state income taxes and assisting the Department of Child Support Services in the collection of child support.

Local Child Support Agency - The county department of child support services that has entered into a cooperative agreement with the California Department of Child Support Services to secure child and spousal support, medical support, and determine paternity.

Medical Support - The court ordered requirement that one or both parents provide health insurance, which can include vision or dental care coverage for a dependent child.

Modification - A court-ordered change or alteration of a support order based upon a change of circumstances upon a showing of good cause or to bring the amount of support ordered into compliance with statewide child support guidelines.

Motion - An application to the court requesting an order or rule in favor of the party that is filing the motion. Motions are generally made in reference to a pending action and may address a matter in the court's discretion or concern a point of law.

Non-Custodial Parent - The parent of the children that may be or is obligated to provide for their support and/or maintenance.

Obligor - An individual, or the estate of a decedent, who owes a duty of support.

Ombudsperson - The person designated within each local child support agency to be the lead administrator of the Ombudsperson Program.

Ombudsperson Program - The person, persons, or office so designated within each local child support agency to provide a means to resolve customer issues related to child support services. Issues may include inquiries, questions, or requests for assistance or facilitation in navigating the local complaint resolution and state hearing processes.

Spousal Support - A legally enforceable obligation assessed against an individual for the support of a spouse or former spouse who is living with a child or children for whom the individual also owes support.

Spousal Support Order - A support order for the payment of spousal support to a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.

State Hearing - An administrative hearing mandated by state law whereby a complainant may obtain an impartial review of a local child support agency or Franchise Tax Board action or inaction regarding a child support case.

State Hearing Office - The division that conducts state hearings in the office or agency designed by the Department to carry out state hearings.