42 USC § 660 - Civil action to enforce child support obligations; jurisdiction of district courts

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s660"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 660 - Civil action to enforce child support obligations; jurisdiction of district courts"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "660"
section_name: "Civil action to enforce child support obligations; jurisdiction of district courts"
chapter_number: 7
chapter_name: "SOCIAL SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "IV"
subchapter_name: "GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES"
part_number: "D"
part_name: "Child Support and Establishment of Paternity"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 460, as added Pub. L. 93–647, § 101(a), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2358; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2663(j)(2)(B)(xi), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1170.)"
---


# § 660. Civil action to enforce child support obligations; jurisdiction of district courts

section 652(a)(8) of this title

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction, without regard to any amount in controversy, to hear and determine any civil action certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under . A civil action under this section may be brought in any judicial district in which the claim arose, the plaintiff resides, or the defendant resides.

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**Source Credit**: (Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 460, as added Pub. L. 93–647, § 101(a), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2358; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2663(j)(2)(B)(xi), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1170.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1984— substituted “Health and Human Services” for “Health, Education, and Welfare”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , but not to be construed as changing or affecting any right, liability, status, or interpretation which existed (under the provisions of law involved) before that date, see , set out as a note under .