What You Need to Know About Child Support Enforcement

Many states have successfully collected child support from non compliant parents by utilizing state specific agencies that are created just for that purpose. For example, the division of child support enforcement in Virgina is credited with collecting over $600 million in child support payments in just one year. That is an obvious indication of the prevalence of unpaid child support payments and the need for child support enforcement. In that same year, Virginia's division of child support enforcement located almost 8,000 non-custodial parents that were in non-compliance.

Each state, as well as its individual counties has individual penalties and methods for child support enforcement. However, in the United States, parents found in non-compliance can be punished on the federal level in certain circumstances. For example, a parent that crosses state lines or falls more than years behind on payments, can find themselves prosecuted under the Federal Deadbeat Punishment Act.

In addition, many countries offer reciprocal agreements which prevent the evasion of child support payments by crossing international borders. The purpose of these agreements is to hold individuals responsible and provide child support enforcement through a court process. Consequences of non-compliance will very according the governing jurisdiction.


In the United States, non-compliance in the amount of $2,500 means that individuals can be denied a passport under the Passport Denial Program. In addition, individuals can be charged with a criminal offense and receive prison time, face fines and loss of property. States also have the right to suspend drivers licenses and garnish the wages of non-compliant parents.

Parents who do not cooperate with the courts usually can not avoid penalties for unpaid child support. Those penalties can apply no matter where they have chosen to reside. In addition to reciprocity agreements, parents are also faced with loss of property and wage garnishment when they fail to make payments - they may also lose their driving privileges and their ability to obtain a passport.

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