Fla. Admin. Code R. 12E-1.039 (2026)

_{(1)Definitions. For purposes of this rule:}

_{(a) “Public assistance recipient”means aperson receivingtemporarycash assistanceunder Section 414.095, F.S., Medicaidunder Section 409.963, F.S., or food assistance under Section 414.31, F.S.}

_{(b)“Alleged father”means “putative father”as defined bySection 409.256(1)(g),F.S., which is an individual who is or maybethe biological father ofachild whosepaternityhas not been established and whosemotherwas unmarried when the child was conceived and born.}

_{(2) Services Provided.TheDepartmentestablishespaternity;establishes, modifies, enforces, collects, and disburses support. TheDepartmentwillinitiate location activities to obtain address, asset, employment, health insurance,and personal identifyinginformation in order to provide services.}

_{(3)Eligibility.}

_{(a)A parent, caregiver, or alleged fatherwho hasaneed for servicesregardingadependent child mayapplyforservices.}

_{(b)A public assistancerecipientreceivingtemporarycash assistanceorfood assistance does not need to applyforservices. A caseis createdautomaticallyupon receiptof areferral from the} Florida Department of Children and Families.

_{(c)A publicassistancerecipient receivingonlyMedicaid benefits must applyforservices. A caseis not automaticallycreated.}

_{(d)A former recipient ofpublic assistanceorchild support services whosecasehas been closed and who wants theDepartment to resume services must completeanapplication.}

_{(e) TheDepartment provides servicesat therequest ofotherstates TitleIV-D agencies, child support agenciesfrom countrieswith which the State of Floridahas areciprocal agreement regarding child support, and to child support agencies orthe equivalentin countries that have signed TheHague Convention on theInternationalRecoveryof Child Support and OtherForms of FamilyMaintenance.}

_{(f)TheDepartmentdoesnot provideservices toaminor child seekingtocollect support from aparent.}

_{(g)TheDepartmentdoesnot provideservices toanadultseekingtocollectsupport from a parent forthetimeduringwhichthe adultseeking to collect support wasadependent.}

_{(4)Application.}

_{(a)To applyforservices,an individual who does not receive temporarycashassistance or food assistancemustsubmitasigned andcomplete electronicor paper application. The Department willobtain information concerningparents andchildren including:name,address, date ofbirth, Social SecurityNumber, employment, health insurance, militaryservice,and other relevant information necessarytoprovidechild support services.}

_{1. An individual maysubmitthe Online Application for Child Support Servicesform CS-ES51b through the Department’swebsite atfloridarevenue.com.Form} CS-ES51b, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08649), is incorporated herein by_{referenceeffective 09/19/2017.TheDepartment willsend an electronic confirmation messageto the applicantoncethe application is processed and the casehas been opened.}

_{2. A hardcopyapplicationmaybe obtained bycalling1(850)488-KIDS (5437) or contacting a child support local office.Local childsupport officeinformation is provided on the Department’swebsite floridarevenue.com.}

_{a.Upon request, theDepartmentwillprovide an individualwho requests services with Forms CS-ES51 and CS-ES50. Form CS-ES51, Application forChild SupportServices, is hereby incorporated by reference effective 09/23, (}http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15871). Form CS-ES50, Application Instructions, is hereby incorporated by reference effective 12/21, _{(http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13864). The applicant mustcomplete and submitthe CS-ES51 form provided.}

_{b. When an applicant requestsservices formorethan one child,the Departmentwillprovide the applicant a ChildInformation, Form CS-ES51ACI,foreachadditionalchild. Form CS-ES51ACI,(http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15872),isincorporated herein byreference, effective 09/23. The applicant mustcomplete and submit the CS-ES51ACIform(s) provided.}

_{c. When thereismorethan one alleged father,theDepartmentwillprovidethe applicanta separateOther Parent Information,Form CS-ES52, for eachalleged father.Form CS-ES52, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13867), isincorporated herein by reference,effective 12/21. The applicant mustcomplete and submitthe CS-ES52 form(s)} provided.

d. When the applicant is applying for services for more than one child with different fathers, _{the applicantwillberequired to submitaseparateapplicationforeach childand father.}

_{(5)Supportingdocuments; additional requirements.}

_{(a)An individual who applies for services under subsection (4) or who receives public assistancemust:}

_{1. Providethe Department all information necessaryto process therequest forservices.}

_{2. Providethe Department copies of allsupportingdocuments, including:Final Judgment of Dissolution ofMarriage,support order, birth certificate of child(ren) not born in Florida, paternityjudgment, payment record, or written agreementbetween theapplicantor public assistancerecipientand theotherparentconcerningpaternity, support, andparentingtime, and otherrelevant documentsnecessaryto provide child support services.}

_{3. Provideapaternitydeclaration foreach child who does not havealegal father.}

_{a. TheDepartment usesthePaternityDeclaration, Form CS-PO34, forthe mother and provides the form to each parent with the Application for Child Support Services. Form CS-PO34, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13863), isincorporated hereinbyreference,effective12/21.}

_{b.TheDepartment usesthe PaternityStatement byNon-Parent, Form CS-PO102, for the non-parent caregiver. Form CS-PO102, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08655),is incorporated herein byreferenceeffective09/19/2017.}

_{c.TheDepartment uses the PaternityStatementbyAlleged Father, Form CS-PO103 for the alleged father. FormCS-PO103, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12350), is incorporated herein byreferenceeffective11/20.}

4. Provide a separate completed Father/Alleged Father Information form (CS-ES119) for each alleged father named on the paternity declaration. Form CS-ES119, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13868), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective 12/21.

5. Provide the Department proof of health insurance if the child(ren) is insured.

6. Inform the Department of any changes in information for himself or herself, the child(ren) _{or other parent(s).This includes addresses, employment, phone numbers, and wherethe child(ren)resides.}

_{7. Voluntarilysubmittopersonal jurisdiction in Florida.}

_{8. Cooperate with the Departmentas required byRule 12E-1.008, F.A.C.}

_{(6)Application and ReferralReview.}

_{(a) TheDepartmentwillreview applicationssubmitted byan individual who does not receive temporarycashassistance or food assistance to determinewhether the application iscomplete.}

_{1.If the applicantreturnssome, but notallrequired information, or returnsincompleteor inaccurate information, theDepartmentwillsend the applicantForm CS-ES54,Request for MoreInformation, byregular mail, requestingthe missing, incomplete, or corrected information. Form CS-ES54, is hereby incorporated by reference, effective 09/19/2017, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08657),}

_{2.If the application is complete, theDepartmentwillsend Form CS-ES55, Response to Request for Services and/or Information Request, to the applicantinforming them the application wasreceived.When additional information is required for theDepartment to proceed, theCS-ES55, willinstruct the applicant to provide therequired information within30 daysafterthe dateof thenotice.Form CS-ES55, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14353),is hereby incorporated byreference,effective07/22.}

_{3. TheDepartmentwillclose therequest for servicescaseif anapplicationis not returnedor} completed within 65 calendar days after the Department begins the application review.

_{(b) TheDepartmentwillreviewpublic assistancereferrals received from the Florida Department of Childrenand Familiesto determinewhetheradditional informationor documents arerequired to provideservices.}

_{1. TheDepartmentwillsend theInformation Neededto ProvideServices, Form CS-ES56, to the public assistancerecipient informingthem arequest to open a child support case was received and additional informationis requiredfor theDepartment to proceed. Form CS-ES56, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-14354), is hereby incorporated by reference,effective 07/22.}

_{2. TheDepartmentwillprovidethe public assistancerecipient Form CS-ES51ACI, Child Information, if thereis morethan one child in thehousehold. Thepublicassistancerecipient mustcomplete and submitthe CS-ES51ACIform(s)provided.}

_{3. TheDepartmentwillnotifythe Department ofChildren and FamilyServices in accordance with Section 409.2572, F.S., if thepublic assistancerecipientfails toprovide allrequired information.}

Rulemaking Authority 409.2557(3)(h),(i) FS.Law Implemented 409.2567 FS. History–New 9-19-17, Amended 8-28-19, 11-12-20, 11-21-21, 6-9-22, 9-14-23.

Effective: 9/14/2023.