Sonoma County best mid-sized county in state at helping parents reach successful child support agreements

The Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services has again been honored by the State of California for its work helping parents mutually agree on child support payments without undergoing an adversarial courtroom proceeding.

No other mid-sized county in California achieves a higher rate of stipulated orders, a type of agreement between parents that establishes child support obligations without pitting parents against each other in potentially lengthy and contentious court proceedings. Overall, Sonoma County had the third-highest rate of stipulated orders in California and the highest rate among 14 mid-sized counties. 

Last year, 55 percent of the cases handled by the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services ended with stipulated orders, more than double the statewide average of 22.7 percent in 2023. It continued a decade-long trend in Sonoma County where a majority of cases handled by the department since 2014 have ended with stipulated orders. 

“These agreements are good for parents and good for their children,” said Janeene de Martinez, director of the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services. “We work with parents to reduce conflict and find creative solutions that ensure children receive the financial support they are entitled to.” 

These collaborative agreements encourage parents to find common ground and strike a balance between their differing visions of their child’s wants and needs. To ensure each parent is heard, Child Support Services staff normally meet with one parent at a time. The process allows both parents to avoid the time and stress of appearing in court or interacting directly with the other parent and helps foster cooperation over the lifetime of a case, which can remain open until a child turns 18. Parents are more likely to pay child support when the amount is reached through a stipulated order instead of an adversarial court proceeding. 

The California Department of Child Support Services recently honored the County for its outstanding performance at achieving stipulated orders and its work to improve the lives of children and families. 

“Child Support Services makes our county stronger by helping parents meet the financial, medical and emotional needs of children,” said Supervisor David Rabbitt, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “Year after year, its staff is among the best in California at helping parents overcome differences and reach agreements that improve the well-being of their children.” 

Child Support Services acts as a neutral third-party that can help establish paternity, locate absent parents and enforce court orders for child support. Last year, it collected and distributed $29.5 million to support 13,500 local children. 

The department makes it easy for parents to fulfill their obligations, facilitating payments through PayPal, PayNearMe, MoneyGram, credit cards online, phone, or direct withdrawal from a checking or savings account. To accommodate busy working parents, payments can also be submitted electronically by their employers. For parents who prefer paying in person, the department offers a kiosk that accepts cash, credit and debit cards, and e-checks at its main Santa Rosa office, located at 3725 Westwind Blvd., Suite 200. 

For more information about Sonoma County Child Support Services, visit sonomacounty.ca.gov/child-support-services or call (866) 901-3212.  

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Media Contact:
Ted Appel, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403