There are many reasons why child support payments are not made on time. Most often, these reasons are based on the employment situation of the noncustodial parent. As a general rule, if payments are not made, it is because the noncustodial parent is not earning enough income to pay his or her obligations.
If a noncustodial parent does not make the court-ordered payment, the child support office uses enforcement remedies, including:
- Intercepting federal and state income and property tax refunds and lottery winnings
- Reporting unpaid balances to credit bureaus
- Denying passport applications
- Suspending driver’s and occupational licenses
- Entering judgments
- Charging interest
- Denying student grants
- Filing for civil contempt of court
- Pursuing charges of criminal nonsupport