Rule 290-7-1-.07. Eligibility for Services (Non-intergovernmental Cases)

1. (1) The Department is authorized by law to accept applications for services only in circumstances where a dependent child is involved. If there is no dependent child involved, the Department is not authorized to accept a new application for services. For example, if all children owed support under an order have emancipated, married, or turned 18 years of age and only arrears are owed, the Department cannot accept a new application for services. However, if the Department is already providing services under the Child Support Recovery Act (CSRA) when the child or children emancipate(s), the Department may continue to provide any services allowed by law.
2. (2) The Department may accept applications for services from any parent (i.e., natural or adoptive) of a child residing in Georgia.
3. (3) The Department is authorized to accept an application for establishment services from a father of a child born out of wedlock only if his paternity of the child has been established in a judicial proceeding or if he has acknowledged paternity under oath either in open court, in an administrative hearing, by signing an acknowledgement of paternity in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 19-7-46.1, or in a notarized affidavit attached to an application for services.
4. (4) The Department is authorized to accept an application for services from a nonparent custodian of a child or children residing in Georgia.
5. (5) The Department is authorized to accept any application for services from a parent or nonparent custodian of a child residing anywhere if the alleged father is located within the boundaries of the State of Georgia.
6. (6) The Department will not accept an application for services completed by any individual or entity on behalf of someone else unless the individual or entity submitting the application is a legal guardian of the obligee or a private collection agency duly registered and authorized under Georgia law.
7. (7) The Department is authorized to accept an application for any and all services available under the CSRA from an obligee or an obligor, including applications for review and modification of a support order.
8. (8) The Department is authorized to dictate the form and substance of its application for services and shall accept only those applications made on approved forms or through the Department's web portal.
9. (9) Any applicant who fails to provide information requested by the Department as needed to accurately calculate an amount of child support under Georgia's Child Support Guidelines shall be deemed non-cooperative and subject to case closure at the Department's sole discretion, pursuant to the case closure guidelines in 45 CFR 303.11.
10. (10) The applicant must pay all fees required under these Rules at the time the application for services is submitted unless federal law provides otherwise.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 19-11-3, 19-11-6, 19-11-7, 19-11-8, 19-11-12, 50-13-1 et seq.

History. Original Rule entitled "Modification of Child Support Obligation Established by Administrative Order" adopted. F. Oct. 17, 1991; eff. Nov. 6, 1991.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Eligibility for Services (Non-intergovernmental Cases)" adopted. F. June 15, 2011; eff. July 5, 2011.

Amended: F. Apr. 15, 2026; eff. May 5, 2026.