Child support questions

What happens if you don't pay child support?

How to use this page: review the guidance below, enter the requested information, and compare the estimate with your state's official rules before making legal or financial decisions.

Short answer: Unpaid child support becomes arrears, and states have strong tools to collect it: wage withholding, tax refund intercepts, bank levies, liens, and suspension of driver's and professional licenses. Arrears over $2,500 can block a U.S. passport, and a court can hold a parent in contempt, which can mean fines or jail.

Interest and credit

Many states charge interest on past-due support and report arrears to credit bureaus. Past-due support generally cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy.

If you cannot pay

Request a modification right away. Courts usually cannot reduce support that has already come due, so waiting only adds to the balance.

If you are owed support

Your state child support agency can enforce an order at little or no cost, and a family law attorney can pursue contempt or other remedies.

Run the numbers with the Arrears Calculator, or talk to a lawyer about your case.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state and change over time.