The Cost of Not Paying Your Child Support

Occasionally, someone asks us, “What happens if I don’t pay my child support?” The Answer: “A lot can happen—and none of it is good.” Here is a list of consequences you could face for not paying your court-ordered child support:

• You will be charged 10 percent interest on your child support obligation.
• You can be thrown in jail.
• You could lose your driver’s license
• You could be denied a passport.
• You could be denied a hunting or fishing license.
• Your tax refund may be seized.
• If you work in a profession that requires a professional license, such as a doctor, lawyer, barber, accountant, nurse, etc., you could lose your license.
• Your wages and/or bank accounts may be garnished.
• You will not be able to get rid of your child support obligation through bankruptcy.
• You could end up on the governor’s deadbeat parents web site. That’s not how anyone wants to go viral.

Our advice to people who owe child support is always the same—pay it. It may hurt in the short-term to pay your child support, but it will cost even more in the long-term if you do not pay it.