Frequently Asked Questions

You may contact the Orange County Service Center at (800) 281-9799 during business hours to speak to a worker about your case.



The 24-hr Automated Self-Service Line (855) 541-5411 may be used to obtain case status and benefit information and to request a replacement Medi-Cal card.

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You may apply for Medi-Cal benefits:

• Online at the Benefits CalWIN web site or www.CoveredCA.com


• In person at one of the Social Services Agency Medi-Cal offices. Click the link to locate an office.


• By phone during business hours Monday-Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm at 1-800-281-9799


• By faxing your Medi-Cal application to 1-714-645-3489

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Physical Location, Map & Driving Directions

1055 N Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Customer Service Center Hours:

7 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday (except legal holidays)

(To guarantee services, you must arrive by 4 p.m.)

Only customers with scheduled appointments will be assisted during the hour of 7 a.m. - 8 a.m.

Cashier Hours:

7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

We are located on the corner of Main Street and 10th Street in the City of Santa Ana. The Customer Service Center is on the first floor of the building. Free customer parking is located on the corner of Spurgeon and 11th Street. Parking meters are located around the perimeter of Orange County Child Support Services and surrounding streets. Additional public pay lots are located further away in the Santa Ana Civic Center (Downtown) area.

Map and Driving Directions

General Mailing Address

Department of Child Support Services
P.O. Box 22099
Santa Ana, CA 92702

Telephone & Fax Numbers

Customer Connect: (866) 901-3212

Customer service representatives are available during normal business hours.
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.

(except legal holidays).

Our automated system is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Fax: (714) 347-4811

Tele-Typewriter access: (866) 399-4096

Outside US: (408) 273-0073

Payment Mailing Address

CA State Disbursement Unit (SDU)

P.O. Box 989067

Sacramento, CA. 95798-9067

Email Address

Existing customers, click here to access Customer Connect. Your inquiry will be reviewed and responded to by a Child Support Specialist.

If you do not have an existing case with Orange County Child Support Services and:

Ombudsman Team

Telephone: (714) 347-4818

Ombudsman team helps resolve issues, answer questions, and explain your rights and responsibilities. We assist parents through the Complaint Resolution process and State Hearings.

Media Relations

Contact: Keith McHorney

Public Information Officer Direct Line: (714) 347-6961

Fax: (714) 347-4825

Email: KMcHorney@css.ocgov.com

Family Law Facilitator

Lamoreaux Justice Center
341 The City Drive
1st Floor, Room 101
Orange, CA 92868

Family Law Facilitators help parents obtain and complete court forms. Family Law Facilitators services are provided free of charge and are not connected with Orange County Child Support Services.

Paternity Opportunity Program (POP)

Telephone: (714) 347-8118
E-Mail Address: CSS-Pop@css.ocgov.com

The Paternity Opportunity Program (POP) is a fast, free, and easy way to establish paternity. Through POP, unmarried parents can voluntarily establish paternity by completing and signing a Declaration of Paternity at the hospital right after the baby is born. Once both parents complete and sign the form, the hospital files the form with California Department of Child Support Services and paternity is established. Parents may also choose to sign a Declaration of Paternity at a later date. Parents can visit Orange County Child Support Services for help with completing and signing the Declaration of Paternity form free of charge.

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The County of Orange does not maintain divorce records.

For divorce record information, please contact the Orange County Superior Court-Family Law Court Records Office at (657) 622-6069.

You may also e-mail the Orange County Superior Court at feedback@occourts.org for additional assistance.
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If you buy an existing food facility and do not change the building or the equipment, call (714) 433-6000 to find the inspector for your area. Make an appointment with the inspector for a health-permit inspection. The inspector will have you fill out a health permit application. This information is necessary to issue a health permit to you. The permit is only valid for the person, location and type of food sales listed on the permit application. The permits are non-transferable. If you plan to build or remodel a food facility, it is necessary to submit three copies of detailed plans and specifications to Orange County Environmental Health. These plans must be approved by the Plan Check and Construction Section before you begin work. When you receive approval on the plans, you may begin construction. Contact your plan checker when the project is 75% to 80% completed for a preliminary construction inspection. Upon completion of the construction, contact your plan checker for a final inspection. You need final approval prior to opening for business. For more information, call (714) 433-6026.
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To apply for a business license, please contact the city in which the business principally operates. If the business is within an unincorporated area, please contact the Orange County Sherriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. If you are interested in filing a Fictitious Business Name Statement, which is required for businesses with names that do not include the name of the business owner(s), please contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 or visit their website at http://ocrecorder.com/services/fictitious.

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For further assistance, please feel free to contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 and speak with a customer service representative, or visit our web site at www.ocrecorder.com.
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The Environmental Health Division investigates consumer complaints regarding food, safety and sanitation at all retail food facilities in Orange County. If you have a consumer complaint regarding an Orange County food facility, please call (714) 433-6000 to report the complaint. Please provide the name and address of the facility you want investigated and explain the conditions you are reporting. Additionally, complaints may be reported online at: http://ochealthinfo.com/eh/complaints
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Please contact the Orange County Service Center at (800) 281-9799 to report changes to your case.



Examples of changes:

• Change of address


• Change in income


• Add/remove case members to/from the case


• Request discontinuance

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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department maintains copies of birth, death and marriage records for those events that occurred in Orange County. The Clerk-Recorder Department has three offices: our main office in downtown Santa Ana (601 N. Ross St. Santa Ana, CA 92701); the South County branch office in Laguna Hills (the Laguna Hills Civic Center, 24031 El Toro Rd., Suite 150); North County branch office (Wells Fargo Building/Parking 222 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 110 Anaheim, CA 92805) To learn more, please click here.
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The mission of the County Executive Office is to support and implement Board policy and direction through corporate action and leadership, communication and coordination of strategic and regional planning, and to ensure effective service delivery through efficient management of the County's workforce and resources, and to identify and respond to needs in a proactive style focused on customer service.

The County Executive Office (CEO) is the corporate administrative branch of Orange County government. The CEO is responsible for providing leadership, vision and knowledge of emerging trends and issues impacting Orange County. The CEO, in turn, supports and implements Board of Supervisors' policy and ensures that the County of Orange operates in an efficient, accountable and responsive manner. The County Executive Officer provides direction to all County agency/department heads directly assigned to him and also provides administrative oversight to those department heads who report directly to the Board of Supervisors. In addition, CEO staff also has oversight of a $4.97 billion budget.

The CEO has 106 employees who are divided into six groups: Infrastructure and Environmental Services, Information and Technology, Finance and Budget, Government and Public Services, Community/Media Relations and Administration.

To learn more about the County Executive Office, click here.

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No, the license can be used within 90 days anywhere in California.
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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department performs civil wedding ceremonies at the Old Orange County Courthouse in 211 West Santa Ana Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92701 Santa Ana, the South County branch office in the Laguna Hills Civic Center and at the North County branch office in Wells Fargo Building/Parking 222 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 110 Anaheim, CA 92805
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Yes, Couples must complete their marriage license application online prior to visiting any of our offices. Appointments are highly recommended and have priority. Walk-in service is on a first-come first-served basis. Marriage license applications can be completed at: https://ocweddings.ocrecorder.com/#/.
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You can search for property records online and in our office. Our department features a searchable Online Grantor/Grantee Index on our web site at www.ocrecorder.com, which provides a listing of recorded documents in Orange County from 1982 to present. Our department also has a complete index as well as all document images in our offices and available to the public to access.
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For further assistance, please feel free to contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 and speak with a customer service representative, or visit our web site at www.ocrecorder.com.
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• EBT stands for Electronic Benefits Transfer. EBT is a benefit issuance system, which is run by Citicorp Electronic Financial Services (CEFS) under a contract with the State.


• The EBT program allows recipients to use a small plastic card that is similar to a credit card or a debit-type (checking account) card.


• "Golden State Advantage Card" is the name of the EBT card that CalWORKs recipients use. Each recipient is provided with his or her own "Golden State Advantage Card" and individualized Personal Identification Number (PIN). "Golden State Advantage Cards" cannot be used without Personal Identification Numbers.


• The "Golden State Advantage Card" or EBT card may be used just like a debit card at ATMs and Point-of-Sale (POS) devices.


• Each recipient has separate accounts for Food Stamps and for cash aid but both accounts may be accessed using one EBT card.


• If a recipient does not use all of his or her benefits in a given month, the balances will "roll over" to the next month.


• The "Golden State Advantage" EBT card may be used outside of Orange County and all Food Stamp cases are included.

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The County of Orange Board of Supervisors, with the establishment of an Ordinance on February 5, 2002, created the Orange County In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority. The OC IHSS Public Authority's general functions are: 1) to maintain a Registry of IHSS Providers and conduct Provider recruitment, pre-screening, and criminal background checks for IHSS Consumers who need assistance finding a Provider; 2) to offer free training and support to Consumers and Providers; and, 3) to provide information and referrals.

The OC IHSS Public Authority Registry is responsible for all recruitment efforts, which include conducting interviews, pre-screening and criminal background checks of all potential Providers, and maintains an up-to-date database of available Providers. Orange County IHSS Consumers in need of in-home care Providers can request that the OC IHSS Public Authority Registry database be searched to match a Consumer's needs with a Provider's location and home care skills. A list of available Providers who meet the Consumer's needs may then be sent to the Consumer for consideration. It is then the Consumer's responsibility to actually select and hire an appropriate Provider for his or her particular home care needs. However, although Consumers select and hire their own Providers, IHSS Providers are paid directly by the State of California.

Please visit http://www.ocgov.com/publicauth/index.asp to learn more.

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You may file a formal complaint against the County of Orange Department of Social Services by calling or writing:

1. Public Inquiry and Response
   P.O. Box 944243, M.S. 6-23
   Sacramento, CA 94244-2430
   
   Phone 1.800.952.5253 (Voice)
   1.800.952.8349 (TDD)
   Fax 1.916.229.4110



2. Orange County Social Services
   Program Integrity
   P.O. Box 22001
   Santa Ana, CA 92702-2001



3. In person at any Orange County Social Services office, with your worker or with us directly at:
   
   Orange County Social Services
   Program Integrity
   1200 N Main St
   Santa Ana, CA 92702

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By telephone: (714) 834-3550

By e-mail: Katrina.Foley@ocgov.com

By mail: Office of Supervisor Katrina Foley, Orange County Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701

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The Environmental Health Division of the Health Care Agency has collected advisory literature from a number of agencies regarding mold and mildew. The public may request that literature be mailed to them or may get advice over the telephone. In addition, renters who have been unable to get landlords to correct maintenance problems, which may lead to interior mold growth, can file a complaint with Environmental Health.

Examples of these maintenance problems include roof leaks, breaks in plumbing lines, faulty door seals or window seals and slab leaks. Repair of these maintenance problems eliminates the source of the moisture, which is vital for the growth of mold. Environmental Health can be reached by calling (714) 433-6000. The complaint must have the name and address of the property manager or owner in order to file the complaint.

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The Medical Safety Net (MSN, formerly the MSI program) is Orange County’s safety-net program for lawful Orange County residents between the ages of 19 and 64 with income from 138% up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) who do not have any other health coverage to pay for their urgent medical needs. The MSN Program delivers care through a partnership between the County of Orange and the private medical community. MSN provides for services that are medically necessary to protect life, prevent significant disability, or prevent the serious deterioration of health. The Medical Safety Net Program does not provide comprehensive health coverage, primary, or preventive care. Most individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for the MSN Program qualify for financial assistance to purchase comprehensive, commercial health coverage through Covered California – California’s online health insurance marketplace. Please contact Covered California at 800-300-1506 for more information on available plans and the next open enrollment period. MSN Website.
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A civil non-sectarian wedding ceremony is $28.
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For further assistance, please feel free to contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 and speak with a customer service representative, or visit our web site at www.ocrecorder.com.
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The Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department has four offices: our main office in downtown Santa Ana (12 Civic Center Plaza, Room 106), South County branch office in Laguna Hills (the Laguna Hills Civic Center, 24031 El Toro Road, Suite 150), North County branch office (Historic Downtown Fullerton, 201 N. Harbor Blvd) and the County Community Service Center which issues Marriage License and Passports only (15460 Magnolia St., Westminster). You may request a copy in person or by mail. For more information regarding how to request copies of property records, please visit our website at www.ocrecorder.com.
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Please select the related agency or department from the Department Feedback topic under Step 1. Next, scroll down to Step 2 to enter your feedback and Step 3 to send. Thank you for your feedback.

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You can visit the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at any of our offices to apply for a marriage license.
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An appointment is not necessary, but highly encouraged. You can make an appointment and fill out your application online at www.ocrecorder.com.
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By telephone: (714) 834-3220

By e-mail: Vicente.Sarmiento@ocgov.com

By mail: Office of Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, Orange County Board of Supervisors, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701

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Adult Behavioral Health Services provides recovery mental health services and episodic treatment services which emphasize individual needs, strengths, choices, and involvement in service planning and implementation. Adults who have a serious and persistent mental disorder and may have a co-occuring substance abuse disorder and impairment in their ability to function in the community or who have a history of recurring substantial functional impairment, hospitalization or symptoms can access services. Services include assessment, evaluation, collateral therapy, individual and group therapy, substance abuse treatment, medication support, rehabilitation, linkage and consultation, placement, plan development, crisis intervention and specialized residential services. AMHS also provides a range of care for county residents who have a serious and persistent mental disorder. Inpatient services include:

Acute psychiatric inpatient treatment program,Program administration and utilization case management of the Medi-Cal Mental Health Managed Care Plan, Allied Behavioral Care (ABC.

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A public marriage license is $61. A confidential marriage license is $66.
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The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program is the State implementation of the Federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. It provides time-limited cash assistance to families with children. CalWORKs recipients are automatically eligible for Medi-Cal and may qualify for Food Stamp benefits. Adults in the program are required to participate in a work activity unless they are determined to be exempt.

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According to the Superior Court of Orange County's web site, legal assistance is available from various agencies located throughout the county.

You may also find Self-Help publications in the Legal section of your local bookstore. The following links will take you directly to the web pages of the agencies listed:

Self-representation is an option (except in Small Claims cases where it is mandatory). Each step in preparing a case for trial can be technical and there are deadlines which must be met. Court staff cannot provide legal advice regarding your case or provide assistance as to the meaning or preparation of any forms.

To learn more, please visit the Superior Court of Orange County's web site.

You may also e-mail the Superior Court of Orange County at feedback@occourts.org.
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By telephone: (714) 834-3110


By mail: Board of Supervisors, 1st District, 400 W. Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92701

To learn more, please click here.

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All reports of possible foodborne illness reported to this Division are investigated. If you believe that you became ill due to a food product purchased in Orange County, you may call (714) 433-6000 to report the incident. You can also use the online form at the following link. http://ochealthinfo.com/eh/complaints Be prepared to answer questions about the onset time, duration, and types of symptoms. Try to compile a list of all foods, and drinks consumed for the two days prior to the first signs of illness, as this information is critical for the investigation. Some commercially distributed prepackaged foods are regulated by other State or Federal agencies. The Environmental Health Division can assist in making referrals to the correct agency.
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You can request a copy of a vital record by mail or in person. If you request a copy by mail, you must fill out the application form, sign a sworn statement under penalty of perjury, and have the form notarized. You can download a copy of the form from our web site at www.ocrecorder.com. You can also make an appointment online to pick up your copy of the record.
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Housing & Community Services maintains a listing of numerous apartment communities and properties constructed throughout the county using bonds, tax credits, low interest loans and other incentives that promote affordable housing. Owners of such properties entered into a commitment to keep rents affordable in a specified number of rental units within each property. Some of properties are subsidized and based on tenant income, while others offer rents that are less than the "open market" costs and available to households earning up to 80% of the county median income.

To view the list, please visit http://www.ochousing.org.

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That depends on how many pages you have and what kind of document it is. For a fee schedule, please visit www.ocrecorder.com and click on "Fees for Service."
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When the County receives your application, it will be assigned to an intake Eligibility Technician (ET). The worker will review tour application and determine if additional information is needed. Once the ET has all of the necessary information, he or she will determine if you are eligible for Medi-Cal. You will get a letter in the mail telling you if your Medi-Cal application is approved or denied. It can take up to 45 days to process a Medi-Cal application. If you are applying for Medi-cal based on a disability, your application process may take up to 90 days or longer.


To inquire about the status of your Medi-Cal application, please contact your intake worker at the contact number on the letter you received in the mail.

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Medi-Cal eligibility is based primarily on your income and, sometimes, your "countable property". Effective January 1, 2014, Medi-Cal has been expanded to offer coverage to a larger group of Californians. To learn more about this, visit the Medi-Cal Expansion Information page.


To find out if you and your family may be eligible based on income, use the Covered California Income Guideline chart.


Pregnant women, children, and disabled persons are allowed to have a higher income on the Federal Poverty Level scale and are urged to apply.

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For further assistance, please feel free to contact the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department at (714) 834-2500 and speak with a customer service representative, or visit our web site at www.ocrecorder.com.
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You can find a list of outpatient clinics in Orange County as well as detailed hours of operation and physical addresses by visiting

http://ochealthinfo.com/bhs/about/amhs/clinics.

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Reservations for OC Sailing and Events Center can be made by calling (949) 923-2215. More information can be found by clicking here.
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Please contact Code Enforcement Services at (866) 552-8120 or click here to make a report.
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Bail can be posted at the IRC Cashier's Office for Inmates at the IRC, Men's Jail, Women's Jail and James Musick Jail (24 hours) and for the Theo Lacy Jail (only between midnight and 06:30AM).

For inmates at Theo Lacy, Bail can be posted at the Theo Lacy Jail, but only between 06:30AM and midnight. If the inmate is a new booking and has completed the booking process or has appeared in court and has been remanded to the custody of the Sheriff, bail can be posted at the IRC Cashier's Office at 550 N. Flower St., Santa Ana.

If the inmate has been sentenced, bail cannot be posted. Bail/Bond information will be available approximately six hours after booking time.
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Covered California and Medi-Cal use the same application. This means that when you apply, depending on factors such as your family size, income and citizenship or immigration status, you could qualify for:

• A Covered California health plan with or without financial assistance


• Medi-Cal


• Medi-Cal Access Program for pregnant women

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If you would like to discuss or report child abuse, you may call (714) 940-1000 or (800) 207-4464, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Community members have an important role in protecting children from abuse and neglect.


• The life of a child may be saved if community members become involved and report cases of suspected child abuse.


• The law requires certain professionals to report suspicion and/or knowledge of child abuse, which includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and cases of severe emotional abuse that constitute willful or unjustifiable punishment of a child.

Your Involvement


Involvement does not mean physical intervention or snooping on your neighbor; it simply means not ignoring the obvious. Fear of involvement has resulted in family tragedies, after which neighbors reported that they knew or suspected what was going on but declined to get involved.

All child abuse reports may be anonymously reported if the reporter does not want to be identified and is not a mandated reporter or required by law to report suspected child abuse.

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Click here for restaurant and food facility inspection violation information.
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