Where and how to send your Texas child support payment

If you owe child support in Texas, you send payments to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU), not directly to the other parent. The SDU is a state office that collects all child support payments, records them, and forwards the money to the person receiving it. Sending money anywhere else — even to the parent directly — does not count as a legal payment and will not reduce what you owe.

You have three main ways to pay: online through the SDU website, by phone, or by mail. Online and phone payments process immediately and cost nothing. Mail takes 5 to 10 business days to arrive and clear. If your employer withholds child support from your paycheck (called wage withholding), that money goes directly to the SDU and you do not need to send anything yourself — your employer handles it.

The SDU mailing address is on your court order or child support paperwork. If you do not have it, you can find it on the Texas Attorney General's child support website or call your local child support office. Keep a record of every payment you make — a confirmation number from online payment, a receipt from the phone line, or a copy of your mailed check. These records protect you if there is ever a dispute about whether you paid.

Key Takeaways

  • All child support payments in Texas go to the State Disbursement Unit, a state office that collects and distributes the money — not to the other parent directly.
  • You can pay online, by phone, or by mail; online and phone payments are free and process the same day, while mail takes 5 to 10 business days.
  • If your employer withholds child support from your paycheck, you do not need to send separate payments because wage withholding goes straight to the SDU.
  • Keep a record of every payment, including confirmation numbers or receipts, to prove you paid if questions arise later.
  • The SDU address and payment instructions appear on your court order or child support paperwork, or you can find them through the Texas Attorney General's office.

Paying online or by phone

The Texas SDU website lets you pay with a debit card, credit card, or bank account transfer. Go to the SDU payment portal, enter your case number (found on your court order), and follow the steps to submit payment. The site will give you a confirmation number immediately — write this down or take a screenshot. Online payments process the same day and cost nothing.

You can also call the SDU payment line at 1-888-839-4079. A representative will take your payment information over the phone and give you a confirmation number. Phone payments also process the same day and have no fee. Both methods work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you pay by credit or debit card through a third-party processor (not the official SDU site), that processor may charge a convenience fee — usually 2 to 3 percent of the payment amount. The official SDU website and phone line do not charge this fee, so use those if you want to avoid extra costs.

Paying by mail or automatic withdrawal

If you prefer to mail a check or money order, make it payable to the State Disbursement Unit and include your case number on the check. Mail it to the SDU address on your court order. The payment will take 5 to 10 business days to arrive and be recorded, so mail early if a deadline is approaching. Do not send cash through the mail.

You can also set up automatic payments from your bank account so money transfers to the SDU on the same day each month. This removes the risk of forgetting to pay and creates an automatic record. Ask your bank about setting up an automatic transfer, or contact your local child support office to see if they can help you arrange it.

If your employer has been ordered to withhold child support from your paycheck, that withholding goes directly to the SDU and counts as your payment. You will see the deduction on your pay stub. This is the most reliable method because it happens automatically and your employer is legally required to send it on time.

What happens if you miss a payment or pay late

If a payment does not reach the SDU by the due date on your court order, you fall behind. The amount you owe keeps growing, and the other parent or the state can take action to collect it. This can include wage withholding (if it is not already in place), interception of your tax refund, suspension of your driver's license, or a court hearing where a judge can order you to pay a lump sum or face jail time.

If you cannot make a full payment by the due date, contact your local child support office before the deadline. Some offices can work with you on a temporary arrangement or help you understand your options. Ignoring a missed payment makes the situation worse. If your income has changed significantly, you may be able to ask the court to modify the amount you owe, but you must go through the court — the SDU cannot change your order on its own.

If you have paid but the SDU has not recorded it yet (for example, a mailed check is still in transit), keep your proof of payment. If the office contacts you about a missed payment, show them your confirmation number or receipt. This is why keeping records is essential.

Understanding your payment obligation and court order

Your child support amount and due date are set by a court order. The order tells you exactly how much to pay, when to pay it, and where to send it. Some orders require one payment per month; others require payments twice a month or on a different schedule. Read your order carefully to know your exact obligation.

Your court order also tells you whether you are responsible for other costs beyond the base child support amount — such as health insurance, medical expenses, or daycare. These are separate from the monthly payment to the SDU, and you may need to pay them directly to the other parent or provider. Check your order to see what you are responsible for.

If your circumstances have changed — you lost your job, your income dropped, or you now have other children to support — you can ask the court to modify your child support order. This requires filing a motion with the court, not just asking the SDU. The court will review your situation and may lower, raise, or leave your payment the same. Until the court changes the order, you must pay the amount currently ordered.

Tracking your payment history and balance

The SDU keeps a record of every payment you make. You can check your payment history and current balance online through the SDU website or by calling your local child support office. Having access to this information helps you confirm that payments have been recorded and shows you how much you still owe.

If you notice a payment is missing from your record, contact the SDU right away. If you mailed a check, it may still be in transit — give it 10 business days. If it has been longer than that, the check may have been lost. In that case, you will need to stop payment on the original check (through your bank) and send a new payment. Keep the documentation of both the original check and the stop-payment order.

Some child support orders include arrears — money you owed from before and did not pay. Your current payment goes toward both the monthly amount due and the arrears. The SDU will show you how much of each payment goes to current support and how much goes to arrears. This helps you understand how quickly you are paying down what you owe.

Payment options if you receive a wage withholding order

If the court or the state has ordered your employer to withhold child support from your paycheck, your employer deducts the amount and sends it to the SDU. You do not make separate payments — the withholding is your payment. Your pay stub will show the deduction, usually labeled as "child support" or "family support."

Wage withholding is the most common payment method in Texas because it is automatic and reliable. If you change jobs, you must notify your local child support office so they can send a new withholding order to your new employer. If there is a gap between jobs, you are still responsible for paying the SDU directly during that time.

If you believe the withholding amount is wrong, or if it is causing you financial hardship, contact your local child support office. They can review the order and help you understand it. You can also ask the court to modify the amount, but you must file a motion — the SDU cannot change a withholding order on its own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pay child support directly to the other parent instead of the SDU?

No. All payments must go to the State Disbursement Unit. Paying the other parent directly does not count as a legal payment and will not reduce what you owe. The SDU records all payments and distributes the money to the person receiving it. This protects both you and the other parent by creating an official record.

What if I cannot afford to pay the full amount this month?

Contact your local child support office before the due date. They may be able to work with you on a temporary arrangement. If your income has permanently changed, you can ask the court to modify your order. Do not simply skip the payment — this creates arrears and can lead to enforcement action like wage withholding or license suspension.

How long does it take for the SDU to record my payment?

Online and phone payments process the same day. Mailed checks take 5 to 10 business days to arrive and be recorded. If you need a payment recorded quickly, use online or phone payment. Always keep your confirmation number or receipt as proof that you paid.

What if I paid but the SDU says I did not?

Show the SDU your proof of payment — a confirmation number from online or phone payment, a receipt, or a copy of your cancelled check. If you mailed a check, it may still be in transit; wait 10 business days before assuming it is lost. If the check was lost, stop payment through your bank and send a new payment.

Do I still have to pay if I have custody part of the time?

Your court order determines your payment obligation based on custody and income. If you share custody, your order may be different from a case where one parent has full custody. If your custody arrangement has changed, you can ask the court to modify your order. Until the court changes it, you must pay what the current order requires.